Doncic Scores 42 as Lakers Beat Heat; Antetokounmpo Hails His Scoring
Luka Doncic scored 42 points and had 13 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 138-117 in Los Angeles on November 2. Miami’s Giannis Antetokounmpo said Doncic could be the best scorer in NBA history.
Doncic added seven rebounds and six three-pointers as the Lakers improved to 6-2. He scored 24 points by halftime, then helped stretch the lead to 19 early in the third quarter. Los Angeles stayed comfortably ahead, with Austin Reaves scoring 27 points and Walker Kessler recording 15 points and 15 rebounds.
The performance extended Doncic’s run of at least 37 points to five straight games. He has scored 40 or more in four of his last five and is averaging 43.4 points over that stretch. His 13 assists were a season high.
Antetokounmpo led Miami with 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. He praised Doncic after the game, saying the Lakers star was among the greatest scorers ever and might be the best. Antetokounmpo also said Doncic deserved to be in the MVP conversation, pointing to his scoring and the Lakers’ winning start.
The Heat, who also got 19 points from Klay Thompson and 16 from Bam Adebayo, fell to 2-5 and began a five-game road swing through the West, losing for the fifth time in their last seven contests. Miami’s defense struggled to contain Doncic, while the Lakers’ zone defense helped disrupt the Heat early.
Miami visits the Clippers on Wednesday, November 4. The Lakers play at Sacramento that night.