Kyrie Irving did not hold back when describing his first matchup against former teammate Luka Doncic since the blockbuster trade that sent the Slovenian star to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Awkward as s**t. It was awkward,” Irving said after the Dallas Mavericks’ 107-99 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. “At the same time, it was fun. We got a chance to feel like we were in practice all over again going at each other.”
Doncic, who was unexpectedly traded for Anthony Davis three weeks ago, finished with a triple-double, posting 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in his first game against Dallas.
The Mavericks’ star guard admitted it was surreal seeing his former teammate in purple and gold, especially as he took on a leadership role for his new team.
“That was a good reflection point,” Irving said. “Just seeing the crowd cheer for him, just get him going. Seeing him make the tough shots that I’ve seen him make thousands of times, that’s what probably made it even more awkward.”
Despite the emotions surrounding the matchup, Irving enjoyed the competitive challenge. He acknowledged Lakers head coach JJ Redick for preparing Los Angeles mentally, especially Doncic.
“You can tell JJ Redick was trying to prepare the guys emotionally, especially Luka,” Irving said. “I feel like he handled himself well.”
LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points, scoring 16 in the fourth quarter to secure their third straight victory. Austin Reaves added 20 points, while Rui Hachimura contributed 15.
Irving carried Dallas with 35 points, while Klay Thompson chipped in 22. However, the Mavericks struggled to find consistency without their former franchise cornerstone, dropping to ninth place in the Western Conference at 31-28.
The Lakers (35-21) continued their strong run, winning 13 of their last 16 games and maintaining their hold on fourth place in the West.
Doncic admitted after the game that facing Dallas for the first time was an emotional experience, 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,” Doncic said. “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.”
Lakers fans at Crypto.com Arena made their opinions clear, chanting “Thank you, Nico!” in reference to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who has been criticized for trading Doncic.
Davis, who was sidelined with a groin injury, received a standing ovation when the Lakers played a tribute video in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Max Christie, part of the trade package for Davis, scored 10 points for Dallas in the first half.
Doncic’s triple-double was the 81st of his career, moving him to seventh in NBA history. It was his fourth triple-double of the season and his first since December 15, when he was still playing for Dallas.
Los Angeles dominated the rebounding battle, out-rebounding Dallas 57-45, using its size advantage inside. The Mavericks shot just 35.7% from the field, while the Lakers overcame a poor shooting night from beyond the arc, making only 11 of 40 attempts.
P.J. Washington Jr. had a rough outing for Dallas, going scoreless in 34 minutes and missing all nine of his shot attempts.
The Mavericks remain in playoff contention but are still working on their chemistry with Irving and Thompson. Meanwhile, the Lakers are surging with Doncic adjusting to his new role alongside James and Reaves.
The two teams will meet again later this season in Dallas, where Doncic is expected to receive an even more intense reaction from Mavericks fans.
