Luka Doncic scores 53 in another spectacular offensive game, carrying Lakers past Blazers 124-118

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 53 points and hit a key jumper in the lane with 28 seconds to play, carrying the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Doncic produced his 11th career 50-point game and his fourth with Los Angeles while preserving a fourth straight win for the Lakers, whose late 12-point lead had dwindled to four before Doncic and Austin Reaves combined to score 10 points in the final seconds.

Reaves scored 25 points and Walker Kessler had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who avenged a 136-129 home loss to Portland on Oct. 27 with this NBA Cup victory.

Doncic scored 20 points in the third quarter alone to hit 40 for the sixth time in an incredible seven-game surge that includes six 40-point games — including four straight — and a 37-point performance.

The Slovenian superstar added five assists and five rebounds, giving him seven consecutive games with at least 35 points, five assists, five rebounds and five 3-pointers.

Deni Avdija had 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds and Damian Lillard scored 22 points for the Blazers, who lost for only the second time this season in the finale of their four-game road trip.

The Lakers trailed by 16 in the second quarter before surging to a 16-point lead of their own early in the fourth with a 32-11 run. Portland roared back and repeatedly got within four points, but no closer.

Doncic joined Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant and George Mikan as the only Lakers to score 40 points in four straight regular-season games. Doncic also passed Mikan for the fifth-most 40-point games in Lakers history — after just 101 regular-season games with Los Angeles.

The Lakers opened this game on their garish yellow tournament court by missing their first 15 3-point attempts into the second quarter. Doncic missed his first five 3-point attempts — but he banked in a 61-footer from the opposite free throw circle at the halftime buzzer.

Portland's big lead was erased in the third quarter when the Lakers scored 17 consecutive points. Doncic outscored the Blazers 20-15 in the third.

Trail Blazers: Host San Antonio on Saturday.

Lakers: At Detroit on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

forward Deni Avdija, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, tries to get by Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's attorney-general on Saturday stood by his decision to seek legal clarifications over a royal order allowing imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, and rejected accusations of treason after the palace insisted it must be implemented.

The dispute marks a rare public clash between the national palace and the government's top legal office over the implementation of a royal decree.

The attorney general on Friday temporarily blockedNajib’s transfer from prison to house arrest, saying more legal clarification was needed.

But the palace Saturday issued a public rebuke, saying King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar's prerogative of pardon for Najib that allowed the house arrest was clear and must be respected, as all conditions have been fulfilled. It warned any attempts to challenge it would amount to defying the royal command.

Najib had left the prison Friday, after his political party paid a 50 million ringgit ($12.3 million) fine required to enable the house arrest order to be carried out. But he was brought back to prison hours later following the attorney-general’s intervention.

Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022, when Malaysia’s top court upheld his conviction in his first graft trial linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of state investment fund 1MDB. Malaysia’s king in September granted Najib clemency, allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest once he pays the court-imposed fine.

The house arrest applies only to his reduced six-year sentence in the first trial. It doesn’t cover a separate 15-year prison sentence imposed in December 2025 for corruption and money laundering in a second major trial tied to the 1MDB scandal. He’s appealing that sentence.

The attorney-general's office Saturday defended its handling of the house arrest order, stressing it wasn't disputing or defying the royal pardon.

It said court clarification was needed on the effect of the high court's discharge order Friday after the fine was paid. It said the key question was whether the discharge order meant Najib had completed his first sentence or still had time left to serve, as this would determine when his second sentence begins.

It reiterated the judicial clarification was necessary to ensure that the decree and existing court rulings were implemented according to the law. Allegations that the move was an insult and treason against the king were baseless, it said.

“Seeking legal certainty through the courts is a responsible step toward upholding the integrity of the administration of justice," it added in a statement.

The standoff is unusual in Malaysia, where the king serves as head of state under a constitutional monarchy while the elected government runs the country and the courts interpret its laws.

FILE - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, escorted by prison officers, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian,File)