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Luka Doncic joins Wilt Chamberlain in setting NBA record after historic start

Luka Doncic returned from two separate injuries on Friday and added 40 points to his season total as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 117-112.

Luka Doncic scores 40 points for third straight game

Doncic missed the first three games due to a left finger sprain and a left calf contusion. He made 14 of 27 shots (51.9%) and 6 of 15 three-pointers (40%), scoring a game-high 44 points.

This was Doncic’s third consecutive 40-point game, after scoring 43 points in the opener against the Golden State Warriors and 49 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Doncic became the only player in NBA history besides Wilt Chamberlain to score 40 points in three consecutive games after the start of the new season. Chamberlain did it twice: seven consecutive games in 1962-63 and five consecutive games in 1961-62.

“I mean, I feel great,” Doncic said when asked about joining the Hall of Famer’s record. “But obviously, I feel better if we win. So that’s the focus, trying to help the team win. Sometimes it’s scoring, sometimes it’s other things.”

Donik scored 92 points in the first two games of the season, breaking Jerry West’s 56-year team record of 81 points and creating Lakers history.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, only Chamberlain, Doncic and Michael Jordan scored 125 points or more in the first three games of the 1986-87 season. Doncic currently has 136 points in just 115 minutes of playing time.

Doncic joins another Lakers legend

Doncic averaged 45.3 points in the first three games of the season, becoming the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2007 to average 45 points or more in any three games.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic was also asked if he could become the only player other than Chamberlain to average 40 points per game in a season.

“It’s going to be tough,” Doncic said. “Sometimes they double-team me more. Sometimes I can’t score as much. I think there were three or four shots that were crazy shots that I wanted to make, but they were bad shots. … I’ve got to work on that. But it’s hard. I don’t know.”

In addition, Doncic scored 12 rebounds and 6 assists in 38 minutes of playing time, helping the Lakers reverse a 15-point deficit in the second half and win their first NBA Cup group stage victory.

The five-time All-Star will have a chance to score 40 points again when the Lakers host the Miami Heat on Sunday. The Purple and Gold will travel to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.



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