Luka Doncic scored 45 points Sunday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors, his third 40-plus-point effort in the past four games for the NBA’s leading scorer at 37.7 points per game. His defense, however, drew the most postgame praise.
Doncic overwhelmed Toronto on that end, forcing eight turnovers with five steals and drawing three charges. He also grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds. According to the research, he became the first player to record those defensive marks in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-14.
Doncic Points to Growth on Defense
Doncic acknowledged his reputation but insisted he has improved. “Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward,” he 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.”
Doncic said he never understood his poor defensive reputation. He noted 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,” he said. “I just wanted to get better at that. And three charges is not bad for one game.”
When a reporter relayed the praise from his teammate and coach, Doncic smiled and responded, “Finally.”
Teammates and Coaches Praise the Effort
Lakers center Walker Kessler, whom the Lakers acquired in the offseason to bolster a defense that ranked 20th in the league in 2025-26, called Doncic’s performance incredible. “Five steals and three charges … incredible,” Kessler said. “You know, incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick credited the charges, two against Toronto’s RJ Barrett and one against Scottie Barnes, as a form 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 those sentiments. “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.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili, who scored 11 points off the bench against his former team, attributed Doncic’s defensive impact to his will. “You can tell he has pride,” Mamukelashvili said. “He has a pride, and he has a hunger. He has a will to not be labeled as that guy who you can just attack.”
Mamukelashvili said Doncic’s offensive impact comes from 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].”