Latest blog entries from Toronto teams across every league
Luka Doncic discussed his defensive improvement, offensive rhythm and the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship ambitions after scoring 45 points in Sunday’s 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The post Luka Doncic addresses defense and Lakers’ championship potential appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler praised Luka Doncic’s defensive impact after the guard recorded 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals in Sunday’s 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The post Walker Kessler: “Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense” appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Laker coach JJ Redick lauds Luka Doncic’s defensive evolution after the Dallas star posts a 45‑point, 15‑rebound, six‑assist, five‑steal line in a 131‑125 victory over Toronto on Sunday. Redick highlights how Doncic’s heightened effort on that end fuels his offensive dominance, marking a notable shift in his overall game.
Luka Doncian fuels a 131-125 Lakers win over the Raptors, dropping a career‑high 45 points while adding 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night. The performance propels Los Angeles past Toronto in a high‑scoring thriller, highlighted by Doncian’s all‑around dominance.
Lakers surge past Raptors 131-125 as Luka Doncic drops 45 points with 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals, hitting eight of 12 threes. Despite a 26‑point lead, LA rolls to 5-2 after a sloppy 24‑turnover night. Meanwhile, Bulls weigh starting Nic Claxton after his hamstring heals against Jalen Smith, who averages 12 points and 8.8 rebounds in a 1‑5 team struggling with 52.3 paint points allowed per game. Nets break a five‑game skid with a 98-90 win at Indiana, looking to capitalize on momentum before a back‑to‑back against the Knicks. All three teams face key decisions ahead of upcoming matchups.
The Lakers bounce back with a 112‑102 win over the Raptors, highlighted by Luka Dončić’s historic 45‑point, 15‑rebound, 6‑assist line that earns him an A+ grade and a new NBA record for a 45‑point game with 5+ threes, 5+ steals and 5+ rebounds. Walker Kessler posts a double‑double (16 points, 15 boards) for an A‑, while Austin Reaves contributes 19 points late to seal the game, receiving a C+. Bench scorer Sandro Mamukelashvili adds 11 points (B), but Quentin Grimes struggles (D+). The Lakers’ defense forces nine Raptors turnovers in the first quarter, setting the tone for the victory.
Luka Dončić showed a dramatic defensive upgrade in the Lakers’ 131‑125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 1, 2026. Beyond his 45 points, eight 3‑pointers and league‑leading 36.2 PPG, he recorded 15 defensive rebounds, five steals and three drawn charges in 35 minutes. Dončić credited a personal initiative to improve his defense, and coach JJ Redick and teammate Walker Kessler praised his on‑ball pressure and high‑IQ positioning. The Lakers posted a +87 net rating with him on the floor, suggesting his all‑around play could finally bolster his MVP case.
Although the Lakers came away with a gritty win on Sunday, JJ Redick was in disbelief with the quality of officiating during the game.
The Lakers' superstar Luka Doncic makes his feelings known after dropping 45 points in an explosive two-way performance against the Raptors tonight.
The 2026 Major League Baseball offseason kicked into high gear this past week as front offices faced critical The post MLB Digest: Drew Rasmussen Secured, Randy Flores Takes Helm in Houston, and Bo Bichette Opts In appeared first on We Never Stop .
The Los Angeles Lakers had to do it the hard way against the stubborn Toronto Raptors as they survived a rally to earn their 5th win of the season.
The Raptors fall 131-125 to the Lakers on Nov. 1, exposing a growing pattern of perimeter‑defense lapses. Despite a spirited effort—Scottie Barnes posted 29 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and RJ Barrett added 22 points with three steals—the team shot only 43% overall and 31% from three, while LA hit 60% from deep. Luka Dončić’s 45 points on 66% three‑point shooting highlighted Toronto’s vulnerability to volume scoring guards. Positive signs include increased three‑point attempts, strong rebounding, and the bench stepping up, but defensive consistency on the outside remains the season‑long concern.
Luka Doncic continued his MVP-level play with 45 points and 15 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors 131-125 on Sunday night.
For the second straight game, the Raptors' half-court offense was awful, as their offense never found a rhythm and Scottie Barnes had no support.
Yaxel Lendeborg erupts for a career‑high 37 points, leading the Warriors to a 124‑112 win over the Clippers as Curry and Green rest, while De’Anthony Melton adds 21 and Charles Bassey grabs 10 rebounds. The Raptors fall 131‑125 to the Lakers without Jakob Poeltl, who exits with shoulder bursitis, as Luka Doncic pours in 45 points, 8 threes and 15 boards. Meanwhile, the Hawks face a one‑game suspension for rookie point guard Kingston Flemings and multiple frontcourt injuries ahead of Monday’s clash with Indiana, prompting deeper minutes for Aaron Wiggins and rookie RayJ Dennis.
Luka Doncic ignites the Los Angeles Lakers with a historic 45‑point, 15‑rebound, six‑assist, five‑steal line as they defeat the Toronto Raptors 131‑125 at Crypto.com Arena. The 27‑year‑old becomes the first NBA player ever to post those exact stats, marking his 20th 40‑point effort and the first 40‑point, 10‑rebound, five‑steal game for the Lakers since the 1982‑83 season. The Lakers improve to 5‑2, while the Raptors slip to 3‑3. Supporting performances include Austin Reaves (19 points) and Walker Kessler (16 points, 15 rebounds). Doncic now leads the league with 37.7 points per game.
Luka Dončić has been cooking to start the 2026-27 season. The Toronto Raptors were just the latest team to get barbecued.
Luka Dončić ignites the Los Angeles Lakers in a 131‑125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 1, 2026. The Slovenian star drops 40 points, including four first‑quarter threes and a record‑setting line of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 three‑pointers and 5 steals in a half—the first such stat combo since the play‑by‑play era began. He also tallies four steals and four threes in the opening period, sparking a 10‑0 run that gives LA a 36‑23 lead. The Lakers force 15 turnovers and score 37 bench points, while Toronto fights back to narrow the gap late. Despite a foul trouble, Dončić finishes with 35 points, leading the Lakers to their bounce‑back victory after a loss to Golden State.
The Lakers edge the Raptors 131‑125 on Nov. 2, 2026. RJ Barrett rebounds with 22 points and a double‑double after early foul trouble, while Scottie Barnes leads Toronto with 29 points despite a turnover‑heavy start. Jamison Battle sparks a brief rally, adding 20 points and key three‑pointers, but the Raptors fall short. Bench contributions include Ja’Kobe Walter’s hot start and Immanuel Quickley’s solid defense and playmaking. The loss highlights inconsistent play from Collin Murray‑Boyles and a modest showing from Trayce Jackson‑Davis.
The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night behind a monster two-way performance from Luka Doncic.
Luka Doncic dominates the Lakers' 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 2, 2026, shrugging off Scottie Barnes' attempts to draw a foul. The Slovenian star posts a historic line—45 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block—shooting 12‑of‑23 FG, 8‑of‑12 3‑pts, and 13‑of‑13 free throws, the first such stat line in NBA history. His early burst of 16 points in the first quarter helps Los Angeles snap a slump after a loss to Golden State, improving the Lakers to 5‑2.
Coach JJ Redick explains Lakers guard Austin Reaves' recent turnover woes ahead of the Raptors game. Reaves logged eight turnovers in back‑to‑back losses, including a 112‑95 defeat to Golden State, prompting him to call himself "terrible." Redick cites Reaves facing multiple help defenders and misreading second‑body situations in pick‑and‑rolls, compounded by the Lakers' influx of nine new rotation players. The coach urges faster reads and better chemistry with teammates like Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton. Despite a steadier first half against the Raptors, Reaves must cut his turnover rate, now 4.8 per game, to keep the revamped Lakers competitive.
Luka Doncian dazzles the Lakers with a 24‑point, eight‑rebound, four‑assist first half against the Toronto Raptors, shooting 7‑of‑12 overall and a sizzling 6‑of‑7 from three to give Los Angeles a 66‑54 lead at halftime. Doncian now tops the league at 36.2 PPG, following recent explosions of 52, 41 and 37 points, though the Lakers have gone 1‑2 in those games. The piece highlights the need for additional scoring support beyond Doncian and Austin Reeves to sustain the team’s success.
The Lakers' $12.5 billion ownership sale accelerates as Mark Walter and buyer Josh Kushner finalize terms, pending NBA approval, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss files a court complaint alleging a “cloak and dagger” conspiracy by siblings Joey and Jesse to force her out as governor amid the family stake sale. On the court, rookie wing Cameron Carr is cleared from the injury list for a season debut against the Raptors after an oblique strain, while Ziaire Williams sits out his third straight game with a managed foot soreness. Jarred Vanderbilt, after four DNP‑CDs, logs 21 minutes versus the Clippers, showcasing his rebounding grit and expressing readiness for a bigger role.
Lakers forward Ziaire Williams will miss his third straight game, sitting out the Sunday matchup against Toronto as coach JJ Redick emphasizes a cautious approach amid a tight back‑to‑back schedule. Redick describes the foot issue as mild morning soreness, noting the player feels better but needs rest. Williams, the No. 10 pick in 2021, started the season strong, averaging a career‑high 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 57.1% overall and 46.7% from three in his first four games. He could return Monday, Nov. 2, versus Miami.