Luka Dončić delivered a sensational 60-point performance as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat, 134-126, drawing MVP chants even from the opposing crowd.
Dončić, the league’s scoring leader, dominated with 60 points on efficient shooting, along with seven rebounds and five steals. The performance came despite fatigue from back-to-back games, with the team arriving in Miami early that morning.
The Slovenian star is now pulling ahead in the scoring race over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and has been on a tear, averaging over 35 points per game since the All-Star break. His surge has also fueled the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak.
Lakers coach JJ Redick called it a “superhero performance” and pushed for Dončić to be seriously considered in the MVP race. Meanwhile, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra admitted his team struggled to contain him.
Dončić’s 60-point game tied the second-highest scoring performance of his career and set a new record for most points scored by an opponent against Miami, surpassing James Harden’s previous mark.
The night also overshadowed another milestone, as LeBron James tied the all-time record for games played, finishing with a triple-double of his own.
