Luke Kennard delivered a standout performance for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night at the American Airlines Center, recording his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Kennard described the challenge of adjusting to a larger on-ball role. “I haven’t really done it this year at all, being that involved and having the ball in my hands that much,” he said. “It’s something I’ve done before. I’m comfortable with it, and obviously I got to be better with it.”
Kennard acknowledged the impact of missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ top two scorers, for the rest of the regular season. “For me, I knew some of the stints I would run, on-ball and off-ball, kind of a mixture of both. We had some really good things offensively, but it’s going to be defense for us and that’s what we have to hang our hat on going forward.”
Despite falling behind by 22 points early, Kennard praised the team’s resilience as they cut the deficit to five in the fourth quarter. “It was great to see,” he said. “We ran some lineups they haven’t seen all year, and when we were down, we stayed together. We still got that guy out there to lead us and be the voice we need. Everybody competed and got us back into it, giving us a chance.”
Kennard also addressed the challenge of balancing his traditional off-ball shooting role with increased playmaking duties. “I still need to be aggressive and look for my shot,” he said. “Efficiency and percentages aren’t the thing for me. It’s being aggressive, looking for the right play, and getting our team the best look we can every time down.”
LeBron James led the Lakers with 30 points and 15 assists, while rookie Cooper Flagg scored 45 points for Dallas, helping the Mavericks end a 14-game home losing streak—their longest in 32 years. P.J. Washington Jr. added 13 of his 15 points after halftime to fuel the comeback. The Lakers’ offense showed flashes, including a third-quarter alley-oop dunk from Kennard, but they never overcame the deficit.
The Lakers, now tied for third in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets, return home to face Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Kennard emphasized that while Sunday’s loss was tough, the focus remains on growth and adjustment without Doncic and Reaves. “It’s something I’m looking forward to getting better at,” he said. “Being organized, confident, and trying to get us a good shot every time down.”
