nypost
SAN FRANCISCO — Luka Doncic delivered another one of his trademark scoring bursts on Friday night at Chase Center, and in doing so, he etched his name alongside a Lakers legend.
Doncic poured in 21 points in the opening quarter of the Lakers' road matchup with the Warriors. It marked his 33rd career 20-point quarter and his 10th since joining Los Angeles, making him and Kobe Bryant the only Lakers players to record at least 10 such quarters since 2000. Bryant, the late franchise icon, amassed 36 20-point quarters between 2000 and his retirement in 2016.
With that performance, Doncic also leapfrogged James Harden for the third-most 20-point quarters in the NBA since 2000. Notably, 18 of the Slovenian superstar's 20-point quarters have come in the first quarter—the highest total by any player in that timeframe.
Doncic's first-quarter stat line was nothing short of spectacular: he drilled five 3-pointers and handed out five assists, propelling the Lakers to a commanding 38-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
However, the Warriors seized momentum when Doncic started the next quarter on the bench, trimming the deficit to nine points (42-33) before he checked back in. Golden State kept rolling even after Doncic's return, eventually tying the game at 53 apiece by halftime.
Key Analysis
Doncic's ability to generate rapid scoring outbursts has already placed him in rare company, and his first-quarter dominance is rewriting record books. By matching Bryant's mark and surpassing Harden, the 25-year-old guard continues to validate the Lakers' decision to build around him. While the Warriors' comeback highlighted vulnerabilities in Los Angeles' bench unit, Doncic's historic start remains the headline of the night.
Originally reported by nypost.