Luka Dončić Drops 53 Points as Lakers Rally Past Trail Blazers 124–118 in NBA Cup

Luka Dončić scored 53 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists on Friday, November 6, 2026, to carry the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124–118 comeback win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena in NBA Cup group play. The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 points before Dončić banked in a 62-foot shot at the halftime buzzer and took over the third quarter. It was his fourth straight game with at least 40 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists — a streak only Dončić and Elgin Baylor have achieved in NBA history.

How the Lakers Came Back From 16 Down

For most of the first half, this looked like Portland's game. The Portland Trail Blazers built a 16-point lead in the second quarter and watched the Los Angeles Lakers miss their first 15 three-point attempts. Dončić himself missed his first five shots from deep.

The night turned in the final seconds of the first half. Dončić launched a shot from nearly three-quarter court — from the top of the opposite key — and banked in a 62-foot heave as the buzzer sounded. The basket, only the Lakers' fourth made three-pointer in 23 attempts to that point, cut Portland's lead to 60–53 at halftime and completely changed the energy inside Crypto.com Arena.

"I think it changes the whole energy, in the team and in the gym. I thought it was an important shot to make," Dončić said afterward.

A Third Quarter That Decided the Game

The third quarter belonged to Dončić alone. He scored 20 points in the period, outscoring Portland 20–15 by himself, as the Lakers outscored the Trail Blazers 34–15 in the quarter. During a 17–0 run, a Ziaire Williams three-pointer gave Los Angeles a 71–68 lead with 4:23 left in the third — the Lakers' first lead since the opening basket. Los Angeles took an 87–75 advantage into the fourth quarter, with Dončić already at 40 points.

Portland refused to fold. A 10–0 run pulled the Trail Blazers within 95–89 with 7:20 remaining, but back-to-back three-pointers from Jake LaRavia and Austin Reaves pushed the lead back to 103–91. Portland closed to 114–110 with 50.8 seconds left after two Damian Lillard free throws, before Dončić sealed the win with a floater with 27.7 seconds remaining that moved him past the 50-point mark.

• Final score: Los Angeles Lakers 124, Portland Trail Blazers 118 — Friday, November 6, 2026, Crypto.com Arena
• Luka Dončić: 53 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
• Austin Reaves: 25 points for Los Angeles
• Walker Kessler: 16 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles
• Deni Avdija: 22 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds for Portland
• Damian Lillard: 22 points for Portland; Toumani Camara added 18 and Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 11 rebounds

The defeat ended Portland's three-game winning streak and was only the Trail Blazers' second loss of the season, coming in the finale of a four-game road trip.

Dončić's Historic Streak and the Elgin Baylor Comparison

The numbers are now historic. Dončić has recorded four straight games with at least 40 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. According to the game reports, only two players in NBA history have done that: Dončić and Elgin Baylor, the Lakers Hall of Fame forward whose all-around scoring runs defined the franchise's early Los Angeles era.

The 53 points were a season high for Dončić and the 11th 50-point game of his career, his fourth as a Laker. He also joined Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan as the only Lakers to score at least 40 points in four straight regular-season games.

His teammates are starting to treat it as routine. "At this point, it's pretty normal for him," LaRavia said of the buzzer-beater, while Kessler called Dončić "my MVP." Dončić kept it simple: "I'm having a lot of fun."

What It Means for the Lakers and the NBA Cup

The win moved the Los Angeles Lakers to 8–2 and first place in the Western Conference, with a fourth straight victory. In NBA Cup group play, it evened the Lakers' record at 1–1 after they dropped their Cup opener against Golden State, and it avenged a 136–129 home loss to Portland on October 27.

That matters for the Lakers' season outlook. NBA Cup group play continues throughout November, with the quarterfinals on December 4–5, the semifinals on December 8–9 and the final on December 11. A comeback built on a superstar performance and timely late shots from Reaves and LaRavia keeps Los Angeles alive in its group and builds early-season momentum.

The Lakers next visit the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, then play at Atlanta on Monday. Portland returns home to host San Antonio on Saturday.

The Wider Friday Night NBA Picture

Friday was a loaded NBA Cup night elsewhere too. Victor Wembanyama had 30 points and 14 rebounds as San Antonio beat Sacramento 124–109. Jayson Tatum scored 34 points with 8 rebounds and 9 assists as Boston, hitting 24 three-pointers, routed Charlotte 119–80. Cleveland beat Philadelphia 119–95 behind Donovan Mitchell's 23 points, while LeBron James, returning to Cleveland with the 76ers, shot 3-for-12 for 8 points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points did Luka Dončić score against the Trail Blazers?

Luka Dončić scored 53 points, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena.

What was the final score of Lakers vs. Trail Blazers?

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124–118 in NBA Cup group play, rallying from a 16-point second-quarter deficit.

What NBA record streak does Dončić share with Elgin Baylor?

Dončić has recorded four straight games with at least 40 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He and Elgin Baylor are the only players in NBA history to achieve that streak.

What was Dončić's long-range shot against Portland?

Dončić banked in a 62-foot shot from nearly three-quarter court at the halftime buzzer, cutting Portland's lead to 60–53 and sparking the Lakers' third-quarter comeback.

What does the win mean for the Lakers in the NBA Cup?

The win evened the Lakers' NBA Cup group-play record at 1–1, moved them to 8–2 overall with a fourth straight victory, and kept them in contention ahead of the December quarterfinals.

How many 50-point games does Dončić have in his career?

The 53-point game against Portland was the 11th 50-point game of Dončić's career and his fourth as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.