The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 138-117 on the second night of a back-to-back behind a 42-point double-double from Luka Doncic. He is the best scorer on the planet, and his MVP case can’t be ignored with his latest efficiency leap. Doncic is on pace to lead the NBA in scoring for the third time in four years, but he has never done it with these percentages.
Luka is averaging 38.3 points while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 42.7 percent on his 3-point attempts. His 5.9 threes made per game would be the most in NBA history. When Luka is making jumpers, he is unstoppable.
The Heat threw every defense imaginable at Luka, but it didn’t matter. He had 16 points in the first quarter and never looked back. Doncic had 37 after three periods and was destroying what most thought would be an elite Miami defense coming into this season. He dropped 42 on just 24 field goal attempts in another efficient night.
Luka Doncic’s efficiency takes him to another level
Luka averaged 33.5 points per game last season and has scored 32.4 a night over his 190 games coming into Monday’s game. He was fresh off a 45-point night against the Raptors on Sunday, where he made sure the Lakers bounced back from disappointment.
Doncic is unstoppable when he’s making his 3-pointers. He literally can’t miss to start this season. Luka 41 in his first seven games. This is not just Doncic chucking up shots.
Number 77 has the best field goal percentage of his career, and he has never shot better than 38.2 percent on his threes. Luka is at his peak.
He relies heavily on the stepback and is usually a slow starter from long range. Not anymore. Doncic is in elite condition, and it has made him an elite 3-point shooter on top of his already otherworldly scoring chops.
Luka has finished top-five in MVP voting four times and made six first-team All-NBA appearances. The 27-year-old superstar is due. This is the year, and his added efficiency should put him at the front of the conversation.
Luka Doncic is also playing better defense
The Don had five steals, one block, and drew three charges against the Raptors on Sunday night. His 45-point masterpiece on the offensive end was complemented by a strong defensive game. He had another two steals on Monday in the second night of a back-to-back.
Luka is fully engaged on the defensive end of the floor this season. He isn’t happy with being the best scorer. Doncic wants to win a championship and has clearly focused on his defense. Credit to him for holding up and creating turnovers. That is all the Lakers need.
Luka becoming an average defender makes LA elite. He will be leading one of the best offenses in the world. If they can sneak into the top-ten on defense, the Lakers meet the historical threshold to be a serious title contender.
Luka Doncic is the best scorer in the world
Winning MVP isn’t just about putting up stats. Narrative and team success play important roles in getting the votes. Expectations were down in LA after LeBron James’ departure. The Lakers are 6-2 after the win over the Heat, giving Doncic the team success. Now, he must create the narrative.
The Lakers exceeding expectations, coupled with Luka putting up historic 3-point shooting, would make a compelling case. He will have to top Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That is no easy task. Luka being the best scorer and offensive player on the planet gives him an edge. The Don just has to keep building his case.
Luka has been on fire to start this season, but there are no signs of slowing down. He just completed his fourth 40-point game, and this was his most efficient contest. Erik Spoelstra threw everything at Doncic, including trying to get the ball out of his hands, but it didn’t matter. Luka was unstoppable. Even the back-to-back couldn’t slow him down.
Luka Doncic’s MVP case just got stronger with this impressive win over the Miami Heat. Luka is scoring 40 when he rolls out of bed. His increased efficiency improves his case to be the best player on the planet. There is no stopping Doncic right now. This roster is built around him and maximizing the superstar. This is just the start and should only get better from here as the team keeps building chemistry.
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