Luka Dončić returned to the Lakers' starting lineup Saturday after missing the second game of a back-to-back Thursday. Here's how he did.

Hours before the Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Denver Nuggets, 123-100, in a big Western Conference showdown on Saturday night, Lakers head coach JJ Redick issued a challenge to Luka Dončić: "I want him to have a 'blackout episode' tonight where he screams at no one in particular. That's the Luka I know. That's the killer."

Leading the charge was Luka Dončić, who finally showed Lakers fans exactly why he was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks. Dončić poured in 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting,

After receiving criticism on his first few performances with the Lakers, Dončić shows growing ‘chemistry’ with the team in the match win against the Nuggets.

Luka Dončić scores 32 points in his best game by far with the Lakers, leading Los Angeles to a 123-100 runaway win at Denver on Saturday night.

After a few slow games, Los Angeles got its first performance befitting all the hype that came with the former Dallas Mavericks star in a 123-100 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Dončić finished with 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Dončić, who went off for 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals on Saturday in his best game with the Lakers, says the duo is only "going to get better" as they log more minutes on the floor together and become more accustomed to each other's game.

The Slovenian star nearly set a new high in his Lakers career with 31 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, a frequent playoff foe during his time with the Dallas Mavericks against whom he averaged 32.6 points per game. The Lakers won 106-102, their fifth straight win as well as their fifth straight win over the Clippers.