Luka Doncic is averaging 40.1 points a game, Austin Reaves scored 43 on Sunday while Doncic sat out, and Oklahoma City held Washington to 75 points. Those are the three stories that defined NBA Week 3, with every number below as of November 9, 2026.
NBA Week 3 (November 3 to 8, 2026): Doncic scored 53 against Portland and leads the league at 40.1 points a game, Reaves led the Lakers past Detroit 121-116 with 43 points, and the Thunder beat the Wizards 114-75 even with three key players out long term.
Luka Doncic is on a Wilt Chamberlain pace
Doncic scored a season-high 53 points in a 124-118 Lakers win over Portland on Friday, November 6, and hit a 62-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the first half, per ESPN. He has 361 points in nine games, a 40.1 average. No player has averaged 40 for a full season since Chamberlain in 1962-63.
Nine games is a sprint, and the real question is health. Doncic missed Sunday with low back tightness. He led our Week 2 MVP ladder, and nothing this week changed that.
Reaves steps up in Detroit
Without Doncic, the Lakers still won 121-116 at Detroit on Sunday, November 8. Reaves scored a season-high 43 on 14-of-27 shooting and went 11 for 11 at the free-throw line, and Walker Kessler added 12 points and 16 rebounds. Los Angeles is 9-2 and the Pistons are 6-3, with Detroit losing consecutive games for the first time this season, according to The Sports Leader.
A 9-2 record with the star out for a night says the Lakers are more than one player. That matters if his back keeps him out of more games.
Thunder keep winning through injuries
Oklahoma City beat Washington 114-75 on Saturday, November 7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in three quarters and sat out the fourth. The 75 points were the lowest by any team this season, and the Wizards shot 29 of 98 from the field (29.6%). The Thunder are 8-2 even though Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren are out long term.
Weekend scores to know
| Date | Result | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 7 | Thunder 114, Wizards 75 | Gilgeous-Alexander, 30 points in three quarters |
| Nov. 8 | Lakers 121, Pistons 116 | Reaves, 43 points |
| Nov. 8 | 76ers 127, Bulls 121 | Brown 29, Maxey 27, James 22 |
| Nov. 8 | Celtics 117, Bucks 97 | George 27, Tatum 21 |
| Nov. 8 | Mavericks 130, Nets 93 | Flagg, 25 points and 12 assists |
| Nov. 8 | Heat 114, Kings 108 | Antetokounmpo, 29 points and 14 rebounds |
Skids and snapped streaks
The Bulls have lost seven straight, and Milwaukee (1-9) and Utah (1-9) are off to rough starts. The Clippers finally ended a seven-game losing streak with a 139-123 win over New Orleans on Sunday. Cleveland also beat Philadelphia 119-95 on November 6, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 23 and Evan Mobley 22, per Yahoo Sports.
Keep learning
- NBA Week 1 in review
- Jokic’s 200th triple-double and the Westbrook record
- Wembanyama’s 52-point, 24-rebound game
FAQ
Who leads the NBA in scoring?
Luka Doncic of the Lakers, at 40.1 points a game through nine games, as of November 9, 2026.
Did Luka Doncic play on Sunday, November 8?
No. He missed the Lakers’ 121-116 win at Detroit with low back tightness.
What is the Thunder’s record?
Oklahoma City is 8-2 after beating Washington 114-75 on November 7, as of November 9, 2026.
Sources
- ESPN: Luka Doncic’s 53-point explosion pushes scoring average past 40
- ESPN: Lakers 121-116 Pistons game recap
- ESPN: Thunder 114-75 Wizards game recap
- The Sports Leader: NBA roundup, Austin Reaves steps up as Lakers down Pistons
- Yahoo Sports: Luka Doncic’s 53-point night, Cavaliers snap Sixers’ winning streak