Doncic breaks down his unprecedented first-half triple-double.
The Los Angeles Lakers destroyed the Washington Wizards on Friday night with one of their most impressive performances of the season, and Luka Doncic was at the center of it all.
The star guard accomplished something rare by recording a triple-double before halftime, finishing the first two quarters with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Lakers raced out to a 77-48 lead at the break.
After the game, Doncic was asked about the impressive feat and kept things simple while acknowledging the difficulty of what he had just done.
"It's not easy, for sure. It might look easy, but it's not easy," Doncic said. "But it just feels good to have that going. … It's just fun to be like that in that position."
Doncic Puts on a Show Against Washington
Doncic throttled down in the second half and sat out the entire fourth quarter with the game well in hand, but he still finished with 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds while shooting 14-of-21 from the field.
It marked his sixth triple-double of the season and showed just how dominant he can be when everything is clicking.
According to Sportradar, the last player to record a triple-double in the first half was Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks on December 5.
The win was a bounce-back performance for the Lakers (29-18), who had just suffered a 30-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Head coach JJ Redick has spoken about the real synergy happening between Doncic and LeBron James throughout the season, and Friday was another example of what the duo can accomplish when everyone is playing well.
Lakers Dominate on Both Ends
Los Angeles shot 61.2 percent from the field and put up 142 points for their second-highest scoring output of the season.
LeBron James contributed 20 points and six assists while still looking explosive at 41 years old, throwing down a one-handed alley-oop dunk that had fans on their feet.
Deandre Ayton added 28 points and a game-high 13 rebounds as the Lakers built their lead and never looked back.
The chemistry between the stars continues to develop, and nights like Friday show the ceiling for this Los Angeles team when they share the ball.
Doncic's ability to take accountability after tough losses and then respond with dominant performances speaks to his growth as a leader.
Looking Ahead
The Wizards (12-35) simply had no answer for Doncic and the Lakers offense, as Washington continues to struggle through a difficult rebuilding season.
Malaki Branham led the Wizards with 17 points, but the team was outclassed from the opening tip.
For the Lakers, the focus now shifts to Sunday's matchup against the New York Knicks.
Austin Reaves remains sidelined with a right calf strain, but Redick mentioned he might return soon.
In the meantime, Los Angeles will continue to lean on Doncic and James while continuing to find the right dynamic moving forward.
If Friday's performance was any indication, the Lakers are in good hands with Doncic making it look easy even when it's not.