On 45-point night, Luka’s defense steals show: ‘This year I really took a step forward’

Luka Doncic drew significant praise for his defensive effort after recording five steals and three charges in the Los Angeles Lakers' 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Along with his historic defensive performance, which forced eight turnovers, Doncic led the Lakers offensively by scoring 45 points and grabbing a season-high 15 defensive rebounds.

According to ESPN Research, Doncic became the first player to record at least five steals and three charges in a single game since tracking began in 2013-14. Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Doncic's leadership and physical sacrifice, while teammate Walker Kessler and Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili commended his competitive pride on defense.