Luka Doncic faced his former team for the first time since being traded, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Doncic recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his first in a Lakers uniform. Despite his struggles from the field, he played a key role down the stretch, assisting LeBron James on a crucial layup with 32 seconds remaining.
The 25-year-old admitted the game was emotionally challenging and that closure from the trade would take time. “The closure is going to take a while, I think. I don’t know. It’s just, it’s not ideal. Like I said, I’m glad this game is over. There was a lot of emotions. It will go little by little. Every day is better,” Doncic said, per Ryan Ward.
Los Angeles (35-21) secured its third straight win, extending its strong run with 13 victories in the last 16 games. James led the way with 27 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, while Austin Reaves added 20.
Kyrie Irving carried Dallas (31-28) with 35 points, and Klay Thompson contributed 22, but the Mavericks fell to ninth in the Western Conference. The team is still adjusting to life without Doncic, who had been their cornerstone for six seasons.
Doncic acknowledged the support from his new teammates and appreciated their efforts to help him get through the night. “It was great. I saw Doe-Doe saying, we got his back, and it was amazing. They tried to push and push me. I know I didn’t play great, but we got the win, and just trying to prove to the world,” he said.
Lakers fans at Crypto.com Arena made their feelings known, chanting “Thank you, Nico!” in reference to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who has been criticized for trading Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Davis, sidelined with a groin injury, was in attendance and received a standing ovation when the Lakers played a tribute video in his honor. Meanwhile, Max Christie, part of the trade package with Davis, scored 10 points for Dallas in the first half.
The Lakers dominated the rebounding battle, 57-45, taking advantage of their size inside. Rui Hachimura added 15 points, including two three-pointers, while Los Angeles overcame a poor shooting night from deep, hitting just 11 of 40 attempts.
Doncic’s triple-double was the 81st of his career, placing him seventh in NBA history. It was also his fourth this season and his first since December 15, when he was still with Dallas.
The Mavericks struggled with efficiency, shooting just 35.7% from the field. P.J. Washington Jr. went scoreless in 34 minutes, missing all nine of his attempts. Dallas had a strong second quarter with 31 points but failed to sustain momentum.
Los Angeles built an early lead by outscoring Dallas 28-20 in the opening period, with Doncic securing eight rebounds in the first quarter alone. The Mavericks fought back, but James’ fourth-quarter takeover proved too much to handle.
Despite Doncic’s departure, the Mavericks remain in playoff contention. However, they continue working on their chemistry with Irving and Thompson. The Lakers, on the other hand, are surging with Doncic adjusting to his role alongside James and Reaves.
The two teams will meet again later this season in Dallas, where Doncic is likely to receive an even louder reception from Mavericks fans.
