Luka Dončić’s MVP case got another boost in NBA Cup action on Friday.
The Los Angeles Lakers star dropped a season-high 53 points to key a 124-118 comeback win against the Portland Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 16 points in the first half but watched that advantage evaporate in an overwhelming third quarter.
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Dončić foreshadowed that comeback at the end of the first half, when he banked in a shot from roughly three quarters down the court. It was measured at 61 feet in the NBA’s play-by-play.
The performance was Dončić’s sixth 40-point game of the season, an NBA best and four games better than the next-closest players. Dončić also became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2012 to score 40 points in four straight games.
Dončić also has two of the three 50-point games in the NBA this season. He has scored at least 37 points in his past seven games.
Cavaliers enjoy a rough night for Joel Embiid and LeBron James
East Group B figures to be one of the most competitive groups in the 2026 NBA Cup. The Cleveland Cavaliers just gave themselves a major leg up on that leaderboard.
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Cleveland began its NBA Cup opener with a 19-4 run against the Philadelphis 76ers, then effectively ended the game with a 12-0 run across the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. The Cavs wound up winning 119-95.
The loss snaps a five-game win streak for the Sixers, who are now 8-2 overall and 1-1 in Cup play. Their only other loss had been to the Detroit Pistons on the second leg of a back-to-back, while missing Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.
The Cavaliers were without standout center Jarrett Allen due to a knee injury, a notable loss given the presence of Embiid on the other side. However, the former MVP big man had easily his worst game of the season, posting 6 points on 0-of-9 shooting with 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 turnovers.
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Combine that with LeBron James posting only 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting with 3 assists and 6 turnovers and it was a rough go for the Sixers, who were outscored 46-26 in the paint before James and the starters left the game for good.
Evan Mobley might have had something to do with that, as he finished with 22 points on 13 shots with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and his usual presence on defense. Donovan Mitchell had 23 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, leading the Cleveland offense all night.
It wasn’t just Cavaliers players making shots either.
Dunk of the Night
Dunk of the Night runner-up
NBA Cup Night 2 scoreboard
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NBA Cup Standings
East Group A
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Detroit Pistons (1-0, +16)
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Toronto Raptors (1-1, +7)
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Milwaukee Bucks (0-1, -14)
East Group B
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Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0, +24)
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Philadelphia 76ers (1-1, -19)
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New York Knicks (0-1, -5)
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Indiana Pacers (0-1, -20)
East Group C
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Boston Celtics (2-0, +53)
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Washington Wizards (1-1, +9)
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Charlotte Hornets (0-2, -55)
West Group A
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Dallas Mavericks (2-0, +17)
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Houston Rockets (0-1, -5)
West Group B
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Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0, +32)
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Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0, +31)
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New Orleans Pelicans (0-1, -6)
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Los Angeles Clippers (0-1, -26)
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Memphis Grizzlies (0-1, -31)
West Group C
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Golden State Warriors (1-0, +17)
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San Antonio Spurs (1-0, +15)
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Los Angeles Lakers (1-1, -11)
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Portland Trail Blazers (0-1, -6)
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Sacramento Kings (0-1, -15)
