Luka Doncic touts his improved defense, and Lakers agree - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic scored 45 points Sunday in the Los Angeles Lakers' 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors — the third 40-plus-point effort in the past four games for the NBA's leading scorer (37.7 PPG) — but it was Doncic's defensive impact that earned him postgame praise.

Doncic tormented Toronto to the tune of eight turnovers — swiping five steals and drawing three charges — becoming the first player to record those defensive marks in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-14, according to ESPN Research.

«Obviously, I'm not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward,» said Doncic, whose season-high 15 rebounds also came on the defensive end. «Obviously, people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me.… But I know, and my team knows, that I'm better this year.»

Lakers center Walker Kessler, whom L.A. traded for in the offseason to ballast a defense that finished 20th in the league in 2025-26, marveled at Doncic's performance against the Raptors.

«Five steals and three charges… incredible,» Kessler said. «You know, incredible. Luka doesn't get enough credit for his defense.»

Lakers coach JJ Redick credited the charges drawn by Doncic — twice against Toronto's RJ Barrett and once against Scottie Barnes — as examples of the 27-year-old guard's leadership.

«I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right? You're putting your body on the line for the team,» Redick said. "… He's trying to win. You see the competitiveness come out so many times on the offensive end, but he's competitive on the defensive end, too."

Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic echoed the sentiments.

«This year he came back in great shape,» he said. «He looks healthy.