LeBron James cites 'Luka magic' as Doncic has 45-point triple-double

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — LeBron James was in awe of “Luka magic” after Luka Doncic had 45 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in his fifth triple-double of the season in a 143-135 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

“That’s Luka. Luka magic! It’s no surprise. He’s just so damn good, it’s ridiculous,” said James, who had 28 points and 10 assists for the Lakers.

Doncic had his first 40-point triple-double as a Laker since arriving last season became the second player to have a 45-point triple double with five steals since the NBA began keeping track of steals. Cade Cunningham was first.

But the statistic that made Doncic smile the most in the postgame press conference was his single turnover.

“One turnover is the best thing on this stat sheet. We have seven turnovers, which is impressive for us, and we won the game,” Doncic said.

The Lakers led by 12 in the fourth quarter but the Jazz cut it to 134-130 before Doncic found Jaxson Hayes for his final assist and the cushion the Lakers needed to clinch the win.

He had a running conversation with a Jazz fan courtside and yelled, “Sit down” and “How are you doing now?” after Hayes threw down emphatic dunk off Doncic's lob.

Despite constant traps and doubles from the Jazz, Doncic had 10 points in the fourth as the Lakers outscored the Jazz 41-29.

For more than two decades, James has been accustomed to being the playmaker and the focus of his team’s offense. Now Doncic is the point, the trigger of the offensive attack, especially in crunch time.

The Lakers improved to 10-0 this season in crunch time with Doncic at the controls.

“It’s pretty awesome to be 10-0 in the clutch, and 12-3 on the road too, which is not easy,” Doncic said.

Marcus Smart was the recipient of two Doncic assists for 3-pointers during a fourth-quarter surge as the Jazz tried to double and trap Doncic.

Many of the Lakers — including Smart and Doncic who got technical fouls — were frustrated with the tightly-called game but Luka’s composure when it mattered most impressed Smart.

“It was big-time for us. He stayed in there mentally. I know he was very frustrated, but he kept his composure, held it together and did what he does best. He controlled his team and helped us come up with this victory,” Smart said.

The Lakers were missing Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton to injury but Doncic made sure that would not be an excuse.

“There are stretches of excellence but there are stretches where he’s not as engaged and isn’t executing our stuff defensive … but he played certainly well enough to lead us to a win. He and LeBron had 28 assists and three turnovers,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said.

Doncic agreed.

“Honestly, I could do some more,” Doncic said, despite his historic night.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) lays up the ball against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) posts up against Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) and guard Keyonte George (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

PHOENIX (AP) — Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the organization’s new leader, endorsed a potential presidential bid by Vice President JD Vance on the opening night of the conservative youth group’s annual conference.

After telling the cheering crowd that Turning Point would help keep Congress in Republican hands next year, she said, “We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible.”

Vance would be the 48th president if he takes office after President Donald Trump.

Kirk’s statement on Thursday is the most explicit backing of Vance’s possible candidacy by a woman who has been positioned as a steward to her late husband’s legacy. Charlie Kirk had become a powerbroker and bridge builder within the conservative movement before he was assassinated in September.

Vance was close with Charlie Kirk, whose backing helped enable his rapid political rise. After the assassination, Vance and his wife joined Erika Kirk in Utah to fly her husband's remains home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two.

Vance is set to speak to Turning Point on Sunday, the conference’s last day. The convention has featured the usual spectacle and energy that have characterized the organization’s events, but the proceedings have also been marred by intense infighting among conservative commentators and estranged allies who have turned on each other in the wake of Kirk’s death.

As Trump's vice president, Vance is well-positioned to inherit the movement that remade the Republican Party and twice sent Trump to the White House. But it would be no small task for him to hold together the Trump coalition, which is built around personal loyalty to him more than shared political goals.

Various wings of the conservative movement already are positioning to steer the party after Trump's presidency, a skirmish that's becoming increasingly public and pointed.

Turning Point, with its thousands of young volunteers, would provide a major boost for Vance in a fractious primary. Now 41, Vance would be the first Millennial president if elected, a natural fit for the organization built around mobilizing youth.

Trump has repeatedly mused about running for a third term despite a constitutional prohibition. However, he’s also speculated about a 2028 ticket featuring Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Although Rubio previously ran for president in 2016, he has said he would support Vance as Trump’s successor.

Brown reported from Washington.

Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force Two at Joint Base Andrews in Md., on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk speaks during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" at Fox News headquarters on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Erika Kirk speaks during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)