LOS ANGELES – Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori had the utmost praise for Luka Dončić when he spoke with reporters at Crypto.com Arena on Friday afternoon, saying the Slovenian superstar "can do anything in the world."
Dončić proved his opponent's point in the closing seconds of the first half when he launched a 62-footer from the top of the opposite key. The crowd held their breath with what felt more like anticipation than anxiety as the ball floated high in the air before coming back down and banking into the net for yet another unreal buzzer-beater.
What made the shot even more notable, perhaps, was that the Lakers had collectively struggled shooting the ball up to that point, starting 0-for-15 from 3-point range and falling behind
by as many as 16. Dončić's shot at the end of the half was just LA's fourth make from deep in 23 attempts; it also sent the Lakers into the locker room having cut the Portland lead to just seven points.
LUKA JUST SANK IT FROM 3/4 COURT 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026
Bruce Springsteen can’t believe what he just witnessed! pic.twitter.com/D0a9aSnwuX
But what ensued from there was the real Luka Magic.
The Lakers dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Trail Blazers 34-15 in the frame behind 20 points from Dončić, who has now dropped at least 40 in four consecutive games, joining Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and George Mikan as the only players in franchise history to do so. Dončić finished the night with 52 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The 27-year old has completely kicked in the door and is dominating the early MVP conversation amid this historic hot streak.
Dončić currently leads Lorenzo Reyes' NBA MVP rankings, and a performance like the one on Friday only furthers the hold Dončić has on the top spot. Just listen to the multiple "M-V-P" chants that echoed through the building fat various points in the night.
Not that MVP discussions have much meaning at all 10 games into an 82-game season. Head coach JJ Redick himself said pregame he doesn't get into those talks until they're at least 50 games in. But the level Dončić has been playing at makes it hard not to at least acknowledge it.
LUKA JUST DROPPED 53 POINTS 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026
🪄 53 PTS
🪄 5 REB
🪄 5 AST
🪄 5 3PM
🪄 @emirates NBA Cup Group Play W
FIRST LAKER SINCE KOBE BRYANT (JAN 10-14, 2012) TO SCORE 40+ PTS IN 4 STRAIGHT GAMES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/auJqrGlwrk
The Lakers look like the real deal early on. Their chemistry is off the charts; that much was on full display with their 17 total assists on Friday, or in Walker Kessler's 16-point, 12-rebound night, or Austin Reaves' 25 points.
But Dončić has been the engine behind it all. He's playing like the best player in the NBA, and the team is that much better because of it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Luka Dončić already an MVP lock? Lakers star continues torrid start with 52-point outburst
