Luka Doncic Puts Utah Jazz Through A Nightmare With 52 Points In A Performance Los Angeles Lakers Fans Have Been Waiting For

Luka Doncic delivers the 52-point masterclass© CHRIS GARDNER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Luka Doncic scored 52 points Sunday night at Delta Center, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 132-123 to open the season 3-0. The 27-year-old added 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes. No other NBA player has reached 50 points this season. Austin Reaves chipped in as well, and the pair combined for 81 points. Doncic had averaged 25.5 points through the first two games.

Utah looked like the better team early. The Jazz led by 18 after the first quarter. Los Angeles got in front by halftime but led by just three entering the fourth. Doncic took over from there. His closing run also tied him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and moved him past LeBron James on two separate lists.

How Luka Doncic Pulled The Lakers Out Of An 18-Point Hole

Luka Doncic and the Lakers started slowly in Salt Lake City. Utah built its lead before the first quarter ended, and Los Angeles spent the second quarter climbing back in front.

The Slovenian star settled it in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points down the stretch. He finished 17 of 30 from the field, made eight of 18 threes and went 10 for 11 at the free-throw line.

A few milestones came with the stunning score tonight. Doncic passed James for sixth on the franchise list of 40-point games, matched Abdul-Jabbar with 10 career 50-point games and reached 3,000 points as a Laker in 95 games. George Mikan needed 106 games to get there, and James needed 114.

Los Angeles parted with James after seven seasons and now builds its offense around two main scorers, Doncic and Reaves. James posted a 26.2 usage rate last season, a share of the offense the Lakers can now hand to those two. Three games in, the setup has produced a 3-0 record and the league's only 50-point game so far.

Lakers Fans React To The 52-Point Night In Utah

Fans filled social media after the final buzzer, and most of the talk centered on the road numbers and a Kobe Bryant comparison.

Zengreenyoda (@zengreenyoda): “Luka doing Kobe Bryant things ????”

Frank. (@FrankisTrying): “25 at the half was the warm up. first laker ever to put up 50 with 10 assists, on the road. ridiculous evening”

2cool (@Luisjpro): “Haters can keep on hating they ain't stopping nothing!!!! #lakeshow”

Ken (@Ken8944): “52-10-8 on the road is just unfair. Luka was cooking from the opening tip ????”

Nick (@Nickmeta): “52 points and 10 assists on the road is a whole night's work. First in Lakers history to put up that line says it all.”

The Lakers have Monday off. They return home Tuesday to face the Portland Trail Blazers at 11 p.m. ET, and Doncic will carry a 3-0 record and a 52-point night into the matchup.