Dončić's 52 Points Lead Lakers Comeback Win; Knicks, 76ers Fall
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Luka Dončić scored 52 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 132-123 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz, maintaining their perfect start to the season. The New York Knicks lost 111-102 to the Orlando Magic after squandering a fourth-quarter lead, while the Philadelphia 76ers were defeated 106-93 by the Detroit Pistons. In Brooklyn, Israeli players Dani Wolf and Ben Sharf made their season debuts for the Nets in a 136-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Luka Dončić scored 52 points to lead the Lakers to a 132-123 comeback win over the Utah Jazz.
- The Lakers secured their third straight win, remaining undefeated early in the NBA season.
- The New York Knicks lost to the Orlando Magic 111-102 after blowing a fourth-quarter lead.
- The Philadelphia 76ers lost 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons, missing key players.
- Israeli players Dani Wolf and Ben Sharf debuted for the Brooklyn Nets in their 136-109 loss to Indiana.
Luka Dončić ignited a massive comeback for the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 52 points to secure their third consecutive victory of the season, a 132-123 win over the Utah Jazz. The Jazz had stormed out to a commanding 47-29 lead by the end of the first quarter, extending it to 47-29 with a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Dončić, who had 17 points in the first quarter, single-handedly began to erase the deficit. With support from Austin Reaves, who added 15 points in the second quarter, the Lakers clawed back. Dončić then took over in the final two and a half minutes of the first half, scoring 8 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer, to give the Lakers a 74-71 lead at halftime.
Despite the Lakers regaining the lead, Utah fought back in the fourth quarter, taking a 116-113 advantage with just over four minutes remaining. Dončić, who had already reached 40 points, then scored 12 of the Lakers' final 19 points in the last 4:17 of the game, sealing his spectacular performance with 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting from the field, including 8-of-18 from three-point range, along with 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Reaves finished with 29 points for the Lakers.
In other NBA action, the New York Knicks suffered a disappointing 111-102 home loss to the Orlando Magic. Despite holding a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Knicks collapsed, allowing the Magic to go on a 22-5 run and secure their first win of the season. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 23 points, 21 of which came in the decisive fourth quarter, complemented by 13 rebounds and 9 assists. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for the Knicks.
The Philadelphia 76ers also fell, losing 106-93 to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons controlled the game from the start, building a lead that reached 21 points. Philadelphia, playing their second game in as many nights and missing key players like Joel Embiid due to load management, struggled offensively. Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Tyrese Maxey was the lone bright spot for the 76ers with 29 points.
In Brooklyn, the Nets' Israeli players Dani Wolf and Ben Sharf saw their first minutes of the season in a 136-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Wolf scored 6 points and Sharf added 2 points as the game became a blowout. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 24 points and 10 assists.