Luka Doncic scored 45 points on Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 131-125, but it was his defensive impact that earned him the most postgame praise. The performance was the third 40-plus-point effort in the past four games for the NBA’s leading scorer, who is averaging 37.7 points per game.
A defensive masterclass
Doncic troubled Toronto all night. He forced eight turnovers, swiped five steals and drew three charges. He also grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds, all of them on the defensive end. Those defensive marks in a single game are the first of their kind since player tracking began in 2013-14.
“Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward,” Doncic said. “Obviously, people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. … But I know, and my team knows, that I’m better this year.”
Lakers centre Walker Kessler, whom the club acquired in the offseason to bolster a defence that finished 20th in the league in 2025-26, was impressed by the display.
“Five steals and three charges … incredible,” Kessler said. “You know, incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense.”
Coaches and teammates weigh in
Lakers coach JJ Redick highlighted the charges Doncic drew, two against Toronto’s RJ Barrett and one against Scottie Barnes, as an example of leadership from the 27-year-old guard.
“I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right? You’re putting your body on the line for the team,” Redick said. “… He’s trying to win. You see the competitiveness come out so many times on the offensive end, but he’s competitive on the defensive end, too.”
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic echoed that view.
“This year he came back in great shape,” he said. “He looks healthy. When he’s healthy and ready to go, he’s just unstoppable. Tonight, he was outstanding.”
When a reporter passed along Kessler’s and Redick’s praise during his postgame news conference, Doncic smiled and said, “Finally.”
He said he did not know why he has a poor defensive reputation. He acknowledged that he took only a handful of charges in 6½ seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before committing more to the tactic in Los Angeles.
“It gets the whole team fired up,” Doncic said. “I just wanted to get better at that. And three charges is not bad for one game.”
Former team falls to Doncic’s will
Sandro Mamukelashvili, who scored 11 points off the bench against his former team, credited Doncic’s determination for his defensive impact.
“You can tell he has pride,” Mamukelashvili said. “He has a pride, and he has a hunger. He has a will to not be labelled as that guy who you can just attack.”
On the offensive end, Mamukelashvili said Doncic’s impact comes down to pure skill.
“You need three guys to guard him,” he said. “I have a feeling that every time Luka plays, it’s like 35-plus [points].”