The Aporia · Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

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APA MLA Chicago

Price, K. (2026, November 2). Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/11/01/sports/luka-doncic-powers-lakers-to-signature-win-but-they-almost-blew-it/

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Quick Summary

The Lakers secured a 131-125 victory over the Raptors on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, improving their record to 5-2 for the season. Luka Dončić led the team with a spectacular performance of 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and five steals in just 35 minutes, marking his second consecutive game scoring over 40 points with double-digit rebounds and at least five steals as a Laker. Despite controlling much of the game and leading by up to 26 points early on, the Lakers saw the Raptors narrow their lead to nine late in the fourth quarter before regaining control.

Written by AI on 2026-11-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On November 2, 2026, Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors with an impressive performance, scoring 45 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and making five steals. This was Doncic's fourth consecutive game with at least 37 points and his 20th game scoring 40 or more in just 98 regular-season games with the Lakers. Despite a strong comeback by Toronto's reserves near the end, Doncic helped secure the win. However, Lakers head coach JJ Redick later criticized bench players for nearly blowing a double-digit lead in less than a minute after he had substituted out key starters like Doncic and Austin Reaves with 1:43 left in the game.

Written for “Luka Doncic's Heroics Lead Lakers Win” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

NBA scores: Doncic scores 45, grabs season-high 15 boards in win over Toronto Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 31 claims Outlet record 64/100

Doncic has 45 points, 15 rebounds as Lakers bounce Raptors 131-125 Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 64/100

Luka Doncic joins Kobe Bryant in Lakers history with feat against Warriors Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 8 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles describe different games: one against the Warriors and another against the Raptors, with distinct dates.”

JJ Redick sends strong warning to Lakers bench after pathetic 60-second span Same event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 15 claims Outlet record 66/100

Luka Dončić continues to achieve Lakers feats not seen since Kobe Bryant Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 10 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles describe different games on separate days with distinct outcomes and contexts.”

Luka Doncic brings extra motivation to Lakers vs Warriors NBA Cup clash on ESPN tonight Different event

Fox News

Hedges 0 of 25 claims Outlet record 68/100

“The articles describe different games, with Article A previewing an upcoming Lakers vs Warriors game and Article B discussing a recent Lakers vs Raptors game.”

Warriors’ comeback vs Lakers unprecedented: ‘25, it’s the new 12′ Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 42 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles describe different games, despite similarities in context and players involved.”

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 6 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Same framing elsewhere

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Who wrote this

Khobi Price

65 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Luka Dončić, who had already scored 41 points by that point, had been out of the game for 45 seconds, with the Lakers and Redick believing the end-of-bench players would put the finishing touches on securing the victory.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · JJ Redick sends strong warning to Lakers bench after pathetic 60-second span

🔮 The questions the Lakers had to face as they returned to Southern California after a one-game trip to the Bay Area revolved around how this new group would respond to early-season adversity.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

🔮 The early-season success might’ve masked the reality of where the Lakers are at in their team-building journey.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Importance of patience being reinforced for Lakers early in season after 25-point collapse

🔮 Each week, the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · LeBron’s 76ers, Grizzlies continue to impress in Post’s NBA Power Rankings

🔮 The game couldn’t have started better for the Lakers, who were fueled by a signature Luka Doncic scoring early scoring flurry Friday night in Chase Center.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Lakers blow 25-point lead NBA Cup-opening loss to Warriors

🔮 The Lakers will be without one of their starting wings when they kick off NBA Cup Group Play action against the Warriors on Friday night at Chase Center.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Lakers starter missing second straight game, out vs Warriors

🔮 It’s unlikely Doncic and Reaves will come even close to being the highest-scoring duo in a season.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Five numbers that explain the Lakers’ explosive start — and biggest flaw

🔮 When the Lakers would need to play or rely on players they normally don’t, for whatever the circumstances it may be for that given game. And against the Clippers, which was the second night of the back-to-back set after Tuesday’s home loss to the Trail Blazers, the circumstances were being without superstar guard Luka Doncic (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness).

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · Luka Doncic-less Lakers get back on track with win over Clippers

🔮 And he would’ve liked to return to the franchise.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Clippers’ Rui Hachimura dishes about ‘tough’ Lakers exit

🔮 The Lakers couldn’t stop Portland from anywhere on the court: The Blazers shot 59% from the field and 50% on 3s.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Luka Doncic’s 41-point masterpiece not enough as Lakers fall to Trail Blazers

Also by Khobi Price

Luka Dončić continues historic start to season in Lakers’ win over Heat

2026-11-03 · New York Post

Luka Dončić continues to achieve Lakers feats not seen since Kobe Bryant

2026-11-03 · New York Post

JJ Redick sends strong warning to Lakers bench after pathetic 60-second span

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Importance of patience being reinforced for Lakers early in season after 25-point collapse

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 65 articles by Khobi Price →

Claims (6 extracted, 0 hedged)

The questions the Lakers had to face as they returned to Southern California after a one-game trip to the Bay Area revolved around how this new group would respond to early-season adversity. asserted

group → have → adversity

Less than 48 hours after blowing a 25-point lead that resulted in a 17-point loss to the Warriors, the Lakers bounced back with a 131-125 win over the Raptors on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena to improve to 5-2 on the season. asserted

Lakers → blow → season

Luka Dončić once again got off to a hot start en route to a spectacular performance. But this time, it was his effort on both ends of the floor that stood out, with his four steals and two charges drawn in the first quarter being just as impactful as the 16 points he scored in the opening frame. asserted

he → get → frame

The Slovenian superstar finished with 45 points (12-for-23 shooting, 8 of 12 on 3-pointers), 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 35 minutes against the Raptors. asserted

superstar → finish → Raptors

It was his second 40-point, 10-rebound, five-steal game as a Laker, and he’s still the only player in franchise history to reach those statistical benchmarks in a game. Dončić, the league’s leading scorer, has scored at least 37 points in four consecutive games. His performance was supported by 19 points and four assists from Austin Reaves, 14 points off the bench from Collin Sexton and a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to go with three blocked shots from Walker Kessler. The Lakers controlled most of the game, leading by as many as 26 points early in the third. asserted

Lakers → ’ → third

The Raptors cut their deficit down to nine midway through the fourth before the Lakers regained composure. But once coach JJ Redick emptied the bench with his team having what seemed to be a comfortable 14-point lead, the Lakers quickly lost control of the game, with the Raptors going on a 11-2 run to cut their deficit to 125-120 before Redick subbed Doncic, Reaves, Kessler and Matisse Thybulle back in with 44 seconds left. asserted

Redick → cut → seconds

Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

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Claims (6 extracted, 0 hedged)