Luka Doncic scores 52 points as Lakers overcome Jazz in offensive showcase

SALT LAKE CITY — A mixed smattering of boos and cheers wafted across Delta Center in the minutes before tipoff as Walker Kessler was introduced as the Lakers’ starting center for the Sunday matinee.

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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy said pregame that he wasn’t treating the game as Kessler’s return game – on an afternoon where the stakes could be naturally higher with his former star big man patrolling the paint in purple and gold – as any more important, insisting that it was simply Game 3 of many to come in a long, at-times grueling regular season.

Maybe Hardy was right. There wasn’t even a tribute video on the big screen. Kessler’s welcome back to Utah was quickly forgotten in an intoxicatingly high-scoring environment as the 7-foot-1 sunk into the background of the box score in the Lakers’ 132-123 victory over the Jazz on Sunday.

On a night where they were easily outrebounded by 21 and the Jazz finished plus-10 in assists, it’s sure nice to have a perennial MVP candidate leading the way.

In the final of many shining moments Sunday, Luka Doncic sank a 3-pointer to hit the 50-point milestone for the first time this season with 1:42 remaining, giving the Lakers a 127-121 lead. Austin Reaves drilled a 3-pointer two offensive possessions later on a kickout from Doncic, extending the lead to seven points and securing the victory in an offensive throwdown.

Reaves waved to the crowd as he retreated down the hardwood court, placing his finger to his lips and Doncic joined him as they celebrated, shushing the crowd goodnight. Doncic led the Lakers (3-0) with 52 points on 17-for-30 shooting (8 for 18 from 3-point range), along with 10 assists and eight rebounds.

“We showed a lot of character, a lot of heart,” Doncic said. “You (go) down 20, you can easily just go away. But we stayed in the game, we talked to each other, and everybody talked a lot about the team. I think we showed a lot of potential there and we just came back and everybody was locked in.”

Wins are wins.

But Sunday wasn’t pretty by any means.

The first quarter could be the poster boy for the Lakers’ list of what not to do.

Jazz guard Ace Bailey outrebounded the Lakers 8 to 6 on the glass. Doncic was late to box out attempts in the paint – as were his teammates – leading to 16 second-chance points as they trailed 47-29 at the first break.

Reaves, who ended the game with 29 points on 7-for-12 shooting (4 for 5 from deep), helped the Lakers crawl back the deficit with 15 second-quarter points. Before the halftime buzzer blared, the Jazz’s 18-point lead evaporated into a 71-all tie. After knotting the score, Doncic ripped the ball away from Bailey while he drove into the paint.

Before the Slovenian star pulled up for a 3-pointer, Bailey stumbled backward to the floor. Doncic looked down at Bailey (one of four Jazz players who scored in double digits), fired, and secured the Lakers a three-point lead to cap a 45-point quarter heading into halftime.

“Once (Doncic) gets the mode that he was in, it’s just giving him the ball, he’s either going to put the ball in the basket or he’s going to make the right play,” Reaves said.

Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has 28 points with five 3-pointers, center Jaren Jackson Jr. had his way with the Lakers’ defense en route to 20 points with four 3-pointers and guard Keyonte George recorded 24 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Bailey added 17 points and led all players with 12 rebounds (six on the offensive glass).

None of Utah’s high-octane scorers, however, could slow down Doncic and Reaves on Sunday.

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“Combined, (Doncic and Reaves) had 81 points,” said Kessler, who was otherwise muted as he tallied just two points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes while battling through foul trouble. “Jeez Louise.”

Kessler admitted postgame that he let his emotions get the best of him in his Salt Lake City return, adding that he amped himself up too much pregame over the reality of coming back to where he spent the first four seasons of his career.

But the Lakers, as Kessler said himself Sunday, didn’t need their paint anchor to lead the way.

“Couldn’t find the ball, couldn’t find the rhythm, just kind of was off a couple fouls that were tough, a couple blocks I usually (make), it’s one of those nights,” Kessler said. “But fortunately, basketball is not a one-man sport.

The Lakers had Collin Sexton (13 points), Ziaire Williams (11 points) and Matisse Thybulle (11 points) to step in. And, of course, Doncic.

Tied at 100 with two seconds on the clock in the third quarter, Doncic released another shot from atop the key to secure another loud long-range bucket leading up to his eventual fourth-quarter dagger.

He held his right index finger to his face and told the opposing crowd to be quiet just as he would in the final minutes of their first road win of the season.

“When he’s in the flow state, he gets into showman mode,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “He’s on stage performing, and that’s always – it’s always really fun to watch.”

The Jazz tested Doncic; dared him even to fire away.

As he did 16 times last season and has done 70 times in his career, Doncic flew past the 40-point marker once again. And for the third time with the Lakers, 50 points was his. For good measure, after eclipsing 40 points with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 116 with 4:06 left in the game, Doncic drew a charging foul.

Doncic was willing to do it all for their third win and the Lakers led their lead the rest of the way.

He’d go to the line for a pair of free throws on the next possession and secure a two-point lead.

“He’s always in showman mode,” Reaves said. “He’s always ready to get a bucket. Knowing that as a teammate, just let him do him and we’re gonna benefit from it as a team.”

Doncic, undoubtedly their “showman,” was putting on another one of his greatest shows.

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