Luka Dončić Joins Kobe, Magic & Shaq in Historic Night as Lakers Roll Past Clippers

The spotlight was bright at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday — and Luka Dončić shined brightest. The Lakers’ superstar guard delivered one of his most dominant performances of the season, dropping 43 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds in a 135–118 win over the rival LA Clippers, securing Los Angeles’ fifth straight victory and locking up their NBA Cup group.

Dončić came out firing, matching his season high with 32 first-half points, punishing the Clippers with deep threes, bruising drives, and elite playmaking. Even though he narrowly missed a 40-point triple-double, his performance etched his name deeper into franchise lore.

🟣 Climbing Lakers History — Fast

With Tuesday’s eruption, Dončić logged his seventh 40-point game as a Laker, passing Magic Johnson for 10th on the team’s all-time list. He also tied Magic for the sixth-most 40-point double-doubles in franchise history.

But the historical company only gets more iconic.

Dončić also matched Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the most 40-point double-doubles by a Laker before turning 27 since the NBA/ABA merger — an early-career pace that places him alongside the greatest figures ever to wear purple and gold.

💪 LeBron Steady, Luka Spectacular

LeBron James chipped in 25 points, providing leadership and complementary scoring as the duo continued to build the chemistry that has made the Lakers one of the West’s most dangerous teams over the past two weeks.

📊 MVP-Caliber Start

Through 12 games, Dončić is averaging:

• 34.5 points
• 8.9 assists
• 8.8 rebounds
• 46.7% shooting

Numbers that place him firmly in the early MVP conversation as he continues to carry Los Angeles on both ends of the floor.

⭐ The Bigger Picture

For all the highlights, one theme has emerged:

Luka Dončić isn’t just excelling in Los Angeles — he’s rewriting parts of the Lakers record book at a pace matched only by the franchise’s biggest icons.

And if this is only the beginning, Lakers fans may be witnessing the rise of the team’s next all-time great in real time.