Luka Dončić is no stranger to delivering big performances, but it wasn’t just his scoring against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, March 18, that had fans talking. The Los Angeles Lakers star torched the Nuggets early, but it was his mid-game trash talk that stole the spotlight.
After drawing a foul, Dončić had a fiery response that instantly went viral—one that perfectly summed up his confidence and dominance.
Luka Dončić Claps Back Mid-Game
From the opening tip, Dončić was locked in. He torched the Nuggets for 21 points in the first quarter alone, making life miserable for Denver’s defenders. Christian Braun started as the primary matchup, but he struggled to contain the Slovenian superstar. Nuggets coach Mike Malone quickly adjusted, bringing in Spencer Jones, a bigger (6’7″) defender, midway through the period.
But not even the size advantage could slow Dončić down. Late in the quarter, he forced a foul on Jones and headed to the free-throw line. After missing his first shot, he couldn’t resist firing back at his opponent’s trash talk, confidently declaring:
“I GOT 20 POINTS, YOU TALKING ABOUT BALL DON’T LIE.”
"I GOT 20 POINTS, YOU TALKING ABOUT BALL DON'T LIE" -Luka Doncic
LLLLMMFFAAOOO pic.twitter.com/ocZB9nrxlH
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) March 20, 2025
The moment instantly went viral, with fans loving Dončić’s fiery attitude.
Dončić’s Hot Start Fuels Lakers To Another Big Win
Dončić’s early dominance helped the Lakers take a 73-59 halftime lead. The Nuggets did a better job containing him in the second quarter, holding him to just four points. But he still finished the night with a stellar performance that included 31 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four 3-pointers. And with that he become the fastest player in Lakers franchise history to record 50+ 3PM – another milestone to an already illustrious resume.
Luka Doncic becomes the fastest player in Lakers franchise history to record 50+ 3PM 🎯 pic.twitter.com/fQOVHQCzMs
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 20, 2025
The Lakers, who were missing LeBron James, had six players in double figures including Austin Reaves (22 points), Dorian Finney-Smith (14 points), Dalton Knecht & Gabe Vincent (12 points each) and Jarred Vanderbilt (10 points).
For the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon led the charge with 26 points, but it wasn’t enough. Denver, missing both Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, suffered a 120-108 loss.
This win was crucial for the Lakers. After dropping four straight games and slipping to fifth in the Western Conference, they’ve now won three in a row. With Dončić leading the way (he’s been their top scorer in two of the three wins), the Lakers have surged back into third place, strengthening their playoff push.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets (44-26) have hit a rough patch, losing five of their last 10 games. They now sit behind the Lakers in the fourth seed, adding extra intrigue to the Western Conference playoff race.