Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised his team’s resilience after facing Luka Doncic for the first time since trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kidd acknowledged the emotional weight of the game but commended his players for their focus and effort.
“I thought we did a great job,” Kidd said, per The Athletic’s Christian Clark and Jovan Buha. “The emotion of the game, understanding what our game plan and what our job was. We put ourselves in a position but came up short.”
Doncic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, leading Los Angeles to a 107-99 victory. The 25-year-old Slovenian received warm greetings from former teammates but was visibly emotional throughout the game.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 35 points, while Klay Thompson contributed 22. LeBron James took over late, scoring 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to seal the Lakers’ win.
The Mavericks trailed by as many as 16 points but clawed back into contention before falling short in the closing minutes. “I thought the guys fought,” Kidd said. “We were down 16, but we didn’t let go of the rope. It could have gone either way. But they were the better team tonight.”
Dallas struggled with efficiency, shooting 35.7% from the field, while Los Angeles capitalized on its size advantage, winning the rebounding battle 57-45. Austin Reaves added 20 points for the Lakers, and Rui Hachimura chipped in 15.
The Mavericks now sit at 31-28, dropping to ninth place in the Western Conference, while the Lakers improved to 35-21, holding onto fourth place. Kidd remains optimistic about Dallas’ playoff push despite ongoing adjustments after the roster shake-up.
The Mavericks and Lakers will face off once more this season in Dallas, where Doncic is expected to receive a highly charged reception.
