Luka Doncic delivered 33 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers erased a 15-point deficit in the final seven minutes to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 on Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
The win marked Doncic’s second visit to Dallas since his blockbuster trade to Los Angeles and pushed the Lakers star to 4-0 against his former team.
Los Angeles trailed by double digits deep into the fourth quarter before a decisive surge flipped the game and silenced the home crowd.
LeBron James scored 11 of his 17 points in the final period, helping spark the comeback after a quiet start that left him with a minus-28 rating early in the quarter.
Rui Hachimura provided the turning point by converting a four-point play, then burying a 3-pointer on the next possession to give the Lakers a lead they would not relinquish.
Hachimura’s 3 for a 108-106 advantage ignited an 11-2 run that swung momentum entirely toward the visitors.
Doncic capped that stretch with a driving layup for an eight-point cushion, a basket that prompted him to gesture toward the Dallas bench as the outcome tilted decisively.
The Slovenian guard was efficient at the line, making 14 of 15 free throws, while finishing 8-of-15 from the field.
Max Christie scored 24 points for Dallas, continuing a strong stretch since arriving in the deal that sent Doncic west, while Naji Marshall added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Brandon Williams chipped in 20 points as the Mavericks saw their season-best four-game winning streak come to an end. Cooper Flagg added 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Dallas appeared in control earlier after outscoring Los Angeles 41-14 from the start of the third quarter into the early moments of the fourth.
That run turned a 13-point deficit into a 14-point lead, with Williams scoring eight points during a 10-2 burst to close the third quarter.
The surge was set up by a 20-4 run to open the half, as the Mavericks punished the Lakers in transition and on the glass.
Los Angeles responded by tightening defensively and leaning on veteran shot-making when it mattered most.
The Lakers finished with a 57-43 rebounding edge and shot 41 percent from three-point range, countering Dallas’ cold shooting late.
Los Angeles improved to 26-17 and remained firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Dallas dropped to 19-26 and will look to regroup quickly with a road matchup at Milwaukee on Sunday.
The Lakers continue their longest trip of the season Monday in Chicago, marking the halfway point of an eight-game road swing.
