Coast-to-Coast: Luka Doncic makes triumphant Lakers debut; Thunder, Nuggets pile up wins

A new era has just started in Hollywood.

The Luka Doncic-LeBron James partnership kicked off in Los Angeles, as a 10-game NBA Tuesday saw Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan drop 40-piece bombs. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephen Curry all delivered 30-point explosions of their own.  

DONCIC GETS FIRST WIN AS A LAKER, DEROZAN HEROICS LIFT KINGS 

• LA Lakers (32-19) def. Utah Jazz(12-40), 132-113: The red-hot Lakers gave a triumphant welcome to their newest star Luka Doncic after imposing their will over the Jazz for a sixth straight win.

[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic marks anticipated Lakers debut behind strong LA rout of Utah Jazz]

• Cleveland Cavaliers (43-10) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-24), 128-107: The East-leading Cavaliers went on a blistering 16-0 run to overcome the Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards’ 44-point explosion. 

• Mobley Made It Happen: Evan Mobley proved his All-Star status with a 28-point double-double for a third straight Cleveland win. The Cavaliers also swept their regular season series against the Timberwolves.

• Sacramento Kings (27-26) def. Dallas Mavericks (28-26), 129-128: DeMar DeRozan capped off a 42-point explosion by hitting the game-winning bucket in overtime in a thrilling Kings escape over the Mavericks. 

• DeeBo Takeover: DeRozan sent the game to overtime and also won it in the extra period, scoring 19 points overall in the last two quarters for back-to-back Kings wins. 

• Atlanta Hawks (26-28) def. Orlando Magic (26-29), 112-106: The Hawks survived Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner’s combined 68-point explosion for a third straight win. 

• Brooklyn Nets (19-34 ) def. Charlotte Hornets (13-38), 97-89: Six Nets players scored in double digits led by Nic Claxton’s 16, paving the way for a fifth Brooklyn victory in their last six games. 

JOKIC GOES FOR 40 FOR HUMMING NUGGETS, THUNDER STAY HOT 

• OKC Thunder (43-9) def. New Orleans Pelicans (12-41), 137-101: The NBA-best Thunder hit a franchise-record of 27 threes en route to blasting the Pelicans for a sixth straight win. 

• Scoring Made Easy by SGA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander registered his league-leading 32nd 30-point game of the season, doing such a feat in just three quarters anew for OKC’s 43rd win of the season. 

• Denver Nuggets (35-19) def. Portland Trail Blazers (23-31), 146-117: Nikola Jokic unleashed a monster 40-point outing for the red-hot Nuggets, who are now riding a league-leading seventh straight win. 

• Joker Card Activated: Jokic imposed his dominance with an insane 40-8-7 statline through the first three quarters of a 29-point rout as Denver is just one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the second best record in the West. 

• Golden State Warriors (27-26) def. Milwaukee Bucks (28-24), 125-111: Stephen Curry outdueled Damian Lillard as the Warriors made it back-to-back wins, taking down the Bucks sans Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

• Sealed With a Chef’s Kiss: Curry recorded his fourth straight 30-point game after finishing with a team-high 38, becoming just the fourth player since LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Karl Malone to achieve such a feat at 36 years old or older. 

• San Antonio Spurs (43-10) def. Washington Wizards (9-44), 131-121: Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox sizzled with 30-point outings in a bounce-back road win at the Wizard’s expense. 

• Wemby 🤝 Swipa: Wemby finished with a 31-point,15-rebound double while Fox churned in 30 markers, as the duo become the first pair of Spur teammates this season to record 30 or more points in a single game. 

• Boston Celtics (38-16) def. Miami Heat (25-44), 131-121: Make it six straight road dubs for Jayson Celtics and the reigning champion Celtics, who dominated Miami and spoiled Andrew Wiggins’ Heat debut. 

[ALSO READ: Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics spoil Andrew Wiggins’ Miami Heat debut]