The stars came out in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, but none burned brighter than Luka Dončić, who delivered one of his most electrifying performances since joining the Lakers. The 26-year-old guard erupted for 43 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds in the Lakers’ 135-118 win over the LA Clippers, extending the team’s win streak to five games and securing their NBA Cup group.

Dončić set the tone early, matching his season high with 32 first-half points, showcasing a mix of deep three-pointers, physical drives, and pinpoint passing that left the Clippers’ defense scrambling. While he narrowly missed what would have been his 10th career 40-point triple-double, his performance still carved out a significant place in Lakers history.

With the performance, Dončić recorded his seventh 40-point game as a Laker, surpassing Magic Johnson for 10th on the franchise’s all-time list. He also tied Magic for the sixth-most 40-point double-doubles in team history with six.

But the company only gets more legendary.

Dončić also matched both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the most 40-point double-doubles by a Laker before age 27 since the NBA/ABA merger, a milestone that places him firmly in the conversation with the greatest names ever to wear purple and gold.

LeBron James added 25 points, providing veteran stability alongside Dončić’s offensive fireworks. The pair continues to build chemistry, fueling what is starting to look like a legitimate Western Conference threat.

Through 12 games this season, Dončić is averaging 34.5 points, 8.9 assists, and 8.8 rebounds, while shooting 46.7% from the field, numbers that place him squarely in the early MVP discussion.

For now, the story is simple: Luka Dončić isn’t just starring in Los Angeles, he’s rewriting the franchise record book, one historic night at a time.

And if this is just the beginning, Lakers fans may be watching the next iconic chapter of the franchise unfold in real time.

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