NBA: Dončić takes over in Utah to earn our MVP of the night
With 52 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds in the Lakers' win at Utah (132–123) on Sunday 25 October, Luka Dončić is the Sport News Africa newsroom's MVP of the night.
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In Salt Lake City, the Lakers started by taking a beating. Utah led 47–29 after the first quarter and Los Angeles already had eighteen points to make up. The answer came in the shape of Luka Dončić. The Slovenian finished the game with 52 points, eight rebounds, ten assists and two steals. It was a complete performance, powering his side to a third win in three games.
52 points, and options for everyone else
The total grabs the eye immediately, yet it does not tell the whole story of his night. Dončić made 17 of his 30 shots, including eight of eighteen from three-point range, and ten of his eleven free throws. He combined volume with efficiency: 56.7% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc. His shooting from outside gave the Lakers another way of answering the Jazz's pressure, without relying solely on drives to the rim.
His ten assists weigh just as heavily in the newsroom's choice. Scoring heavily can keep a team in a game; creating for team-mates as well widens the options for the whole side. Dončić did both. With eight rebounds, he also helped win back possessions, beyond his role as finisher and playmaker.
A win rebuilt after a poor start
The Lakers scored 45 points in the second quarter, against 24 for Utah. By half-time the balance of power had shifted: Los Angeles led 74–71. The two teams then scored 29 points each in the third quarter, before the visitors took the final period 29–23. Dončić did not simply pile up points in a game that was already decided. His team needed that production to get back into it, and then to finish the job.
Austin Reaves provided major support with 29 points, four assists and four three-pointers from five attempts. Together, the two guards scored 81 of the Lakers' 132 points. That partnership is a reminder that picking an MVP does not erase the contributions around him. Dončić's performance gained its full value in a win to which Reaves contributed hugely.
The SNA newsroom's choice
Our choice rests on three elements: an exceptional offensive output, a contribution to collective creation and the weight of the performance in the result. With his 52 points and his double-double, Dončić ticks all those boxes. The MVP of the night title reflects Sport News Africa's editorial choice here.
The season is still young and it is too early to draw conclusions about the race for the annual trophy. This night does offer a clear marker, however: to beat the Lakers in Utah, a team would have needed an answer to a Dončić who can score as much as he can set up others.
Dončić's highlights and the night's Top 10
The official Top 10 of the night
The official NBA Top 10 for 25 October 2026.
SNA contribution