Luka Doncic turned in another MVP-level performance with 45 points in a win over Toronto Sunday night, but the main topic of conversation in the Lakers’ locker room was his defense, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Doncic has made an effort to upgrade that aspect of his game in his first season as the team’s clear on-court leader, and it showed with five steals and three drawn charges.

“Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward,” said Doncic, who also finished with a season-high 15 rebounds. “Obviously, people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. … But I know, and my team knows, that I’m better this year.”

Defense and durability have been the main knocks against Doncic throughout his career, but he’s working to improve in both areas. He admits that he never really concentrated on drawing offensive fouls during his time in Dallas, but that has changed since the 2024 trade to Los Angeles.

“I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right? You’re putting your body on the line for the team,” coach JJ Redick said. “… He’s trying to win. You see the competitiveness come out so many times on the offensive end, but he’s competitive on the defensive end, too.”

There’s more on the Lakers:

• Redick was upset that his bench unit was unable to close out Sunday’s win, per Khobi Price of The California Post. After they allowed Toronto to go on an 11-2 run late in the game and bring a seemingly safe lead down to five points, Redick reinserted Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Matisse Thybulle for the final 44 seconds. “We just didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball in that situation,” Redick said (Twitter video link). “So I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll leave the guys in. You gotta play to the final buzzer, and if guys are not ready to play, then I just won’t put them in.”
• Cameron Carr, who has been sidelined by a right oblique strain, played less than a minute on Sunday in his NBA debut. The first-round pick practiced three times with the team’s G League affiliate this week and said he’s ready to start playing, Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register relays in a subscriber-only story. “I feel physically pretty good,” Carr said prior to the game. “I’m excited. Just ready to get the nerves out, make one big play, do something good, get a deflection, get a steal, do something that’ll get my body moving, get the nerves out.”
• Lawson Lovering had to pack quickly and catch a flight to Los Angeles after the Lakers signed him to a two-way contract on Wednesday, Royer adds. The 23-year-old center is adjusting to a new team after being cut by Memphis in late September. “I just think I can bring elite size, my feel for the game,” Lovering said. “I think defensively and rebounding, I can show up and set hard screens, get guys open.”
• AK Okereke, who was waived to make room for Lovering, has been reacquired by the Coachella Valley Lakers, the G League team announced.