The Los Angeles Lakers steamrolled the Washington Wizards on Friday night, powered by a truly historic performance from Luka Dončić. The superstar wasted no time announcing himself, opening the game with a quarter for the ages: 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. No player in the play-by-play era has ever posted that stat line in a single quarter.
That opening stretch set the tone for an unbelievable night. Dončić recorded a triple-double in under 20 minutes, matching his own NBA record as the only player to ever accomplish the feat. Performances like this don’t just win games — they fuel MVP conversations. While Washington may be one of the league’s weakest teams, the Lakers didn’t simply win. They overwhelmed them, and Luka looked completely unstoppable doing it.
Since head coach JJ Redick publicly challenged him, Dončić has been on a tear. Any concern about the ankle injury he suffered in Cleveland quickly vanished Friday night. Luka moved effortlessly, knocked down shots, and orchestrated the offense at an elite level. At just 26 years old, he’s already built a legendary résumé, and this may have been the finest night of his career.
Dončić finished the first half with a 25-point triple-double — the second time he’s done that in his career. No other player has ever accomplished it once, let alone twice. His jumper was locked in, and Washington had no answers as he carved up the defense possession after possession.
By halftime, Luka’s stat line was staggering:
26 points
10 rebounds
11 assists
19 minutes
He became the only player in the play-by-play era (since 1997–98) to record multiple first-half 25-point triple-doubles — with the only other instance coming from himself in 2023.
Dončić ended the night with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, and three steals in just 31 minutes. He shot 13-of-21 from the field and drilled six three-pointers as the Lakers outscored Washington by 21 points when he was on the floor. The game was effectively over by halftime.
This was exactly what Los Angeles needed in a potential trap game. Luka controlled the pace, made the right reads, and got everyone involved. The Lakers fed off his energy, played connected defense, and buried shots all night long. Against a Wizards team ranked 29th in defensive rating, the Lakers did precisely what good teams are supposed to do.
Dončić consistently got to his spots, punished defensive mistakes, and dictated every possession. This was Luka at his absolute best — confident, surgical, and relentless. While his 73-point outburst in 2024 will always stand out, Friday night belongs in the same conversation. The Wizards had no solutions, and Luka reminded everyone what makes him so special.
This is what an MVP looks like. It’s also why the Lakers wasted no time building around him. Nobody has ever opened a game the way Dončić did in Washington, and right now, he’s playing the best basketball of his career. Lakers fans should be thrilled — Luka Dončić already gives his team a chance every night, and performances like this prove why he remains one of the most must-watch players in the world.
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