Luka Doncic didn’t miss a beat.
After missing three games with a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion, he returned and dropped 44 points, with 12 boards and six assists, on the Memphis Grizzlies, sparking the Lakers to a road win in Memphis.
Doncic has scored 40+ points in all three games he has played this season. The only other NBA player to start the season with three straight 40+ point games is Wilt Chamberlain (twice).
“He just continues to get where he wants to go, and he takes what the defense gives him,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said, [via the Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/lakers-luka-doncic-40-points-a67306a0a92d680425157e2aa1849b14).
Memphis tried defending him with Jaylen Wells, Vince Williams and rookie Cedric Coward, but Doncic shot 9-of-16 against that group, plus he was drawing fouls and got to the line 13 times on the night. Austin Reaves pitched in 21 points but struggled with his shot, hitting 5-of-14. Jake LaRavia had 13 off the bench for the Lakers, who are now 4-2 on the season.
Ja Morant scored just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting on the night, primarily defended by Marcus Smart. Wells and Jock Landale led the Grizzlies with 16 points each. Memphis falls to 3-3 on the season (0-1 in the NBA Cup, as this was a Cup game).
* * *
#### Page 2