Luka Dončić scores 52 points as Lakers improve to 3-0 with win over Jazz

Luka Dončić scored 52 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 132-123 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, reaching the 50-point mark for the 10th time in his NBA career.

Dončić also nearly recorded a triple-double, adding eight rebounds and 10 assists. He shot 17 of 30 from the floor, including 8 of 18 on 3-point shots, and made 10 of 11 free throws.

In his third season with the Lakers, Dončić became the third player in franchise history to score 50 or more points and dish out 10 assists in a single game, according to The Athletic's Law Murray .

The last Lakers player to do it was Elgin Baylor on Feb. 13, 1963 against the Boston Celtics. Baylor also achieved the feat on Dec. 13, 1961 versus the St. Louis Hawks, while Jerry West joined him in a Jan. 21, 1962 game with the Cincinnati Royals.

Perhaps more important for the Lakers is winning their first three games of the season. After allowing 47 points to Utah in the first quarter, Los Angeles appeared to be on its way to its first defeat. Trailing 47-29 after the opening 12 minutes, the Lakers outscored the Jazz by 21 points in the second quarter for a 74-71 halftime lead.

Dončić scored 25 points in the first half, eight of them in the second quarter, while Austin Reaves added 10.

In the third quarter, Dončić added another 14 points and the Lakers needed every one of them to keep up with Utah. His 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining in the frame put the Lakers ahead 103-100 going into the fourth.

The Jazz took a 111-110 lead midway through the quarter after going on a 13-1 run. After two Lauri Markkanen free throws put Utah ahead by three points, Dončić swished a 3-pointer to tie the score and then drew a charge on Keyonte George. He followed with two free throws after a Darryn Peterson foul to give the Lakers the lead and they held on to it for the remainder of the game.

A 3-pointer from Reaves was the dagger with 33.8 seconds left in regulation. Dončić added two free throws to seal the win with 12.3 seconds remaining.

Reaves finished with 29 points, shooting 4 of 5 on 3s. Collin Sexton added 13 off the bench, while Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams each scored 11 points.

Markkanen led the Jazz with 28 points, followed by George, who nearly reached a triple-double with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points, followed by Ace Bailey with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists for Utah, which dropped to 1-2.

Up next for the Lakers is a home matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers (2-0) on Tuesday.