Luka Doncic scores 42 for a fifth straight 37-point game as the Lakers beat Miami

A night after scoring 45 against Toronto, Luka Doncic scored 42 points with 13 assists and seven rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 138-117 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, per the AP recap on ESPN and the ESPN box score.

It's Doncic's fifth straight game with at least 37 points and his fourth 40-point game in his last five, according to the AP. He is averaging 43.4 points over that stretch. The Lakers are 6-2.

The first quarter again

Doncic had 16 points, five assists and four rebounds in the first quarter. The AP said he is averaging 15.0 points in the opening period and has scored at least 13 in all but one of his seven games. He had 24 by halftime. The Lakers said on X that he is the first Laker to score 20 or more in the first half in five straight games since Kobe Bryant in 2007.

He scored nine more in the first four and a half minutes of the third quarter, and the lead grew to 93-74. Miami never got close after that. Doncic finished 14 of 24 from the field, 6 of 15 from 3-point range and 8 of 10 at the line.

The help

Austin Reaves scored 27 on 10-of-15 shooting and carried the offense to start the fourth quarter while Doncic rested. Walker Kessler had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the second straight night after his 16-and-15 game against the Raptors. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13. The Lakers shot 57 percent, went 19 of 43 from deep and had 39 assists on 51 baskets.

Ziaire Williams returned from a three-game absence with a foot injury and scored nine off the bench. Jake LaRavia kept the starting spot.

Miami's trip starts badly

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, but also seven turnovers. Klay Thompson scored 19, Bam Adebayo had 16 and Davion Mitchell went 5 for 5 for 15. Miami opened a five-game West Coast trip with its fifth loss in seven games, the AP said, and turned it over 19 times.

What's next

The Lakers visit Sacramento on Wednesday. Miami plays the Clippers on Wednesday. Doncic's run of 37-point games is at five, and that streak is the number to watch.