Luka Doncic scored 25 points and handed out seven assists, LeBron James added 24 points and seven assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped out of a slump with a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.
Deandre Ayton was dominant in his return from a knee injury, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for just the second time in their last seven games. Ayton was a perfect 10-for-10 from the field, posting his highest scoring performance since Nov. 3 as Los Angeles wrapped up its final home game before an eight-game, 15-day road trip.
Dončić also returned to the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s loss at Portland to manage nagging injuries, knocking down five 3-pointers and providing steady control of the offense. James, meanwhile, played on consecutive nights for the second time this season and the second time this week, capping a demanding stretch of five games in seven days for the 41-year-old.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 22 points and nine rebounds. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 20 points, and former Laker Brandon Ingram added 19 points and seven assists as the Raptors dropped back-to-back games for the first time in four weeks. Toronto faded in the fourth quarter in the opener of a five-game road trip.
The game remained tight for most of the night, with neither team building a double-digit lead until the Lakers opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets by James to go up 91-80. Los Angeles soon seized full control with a nine-point run while holding the Raptors scoreless for more than three minutes.
Doncic picked up his 12th technical foul of the season in the first half for arguing a call, the second-most in the NBA behind Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks.
Up next:
The Raptors continue their trip at Golden State on Tuesday night, while the Lakers visit Denver on Tuesday.
