The Los Angeles Lakers secured a crucial victory against the Dallas Mavericks, winning 112-105 in a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night. The game marked Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas, where he delivered an impressive performance, scoring 45 points, alongside eight rebounds and six assists. Even though Doncic almost single-handedly saved the Mavericks, Dallas could not pull out the victory.
LeBron James powered the Lakers with 27 points and seven rebounds, with Rui Hachimura adding 15 points. Anthony Davis inside was a big reason why, as AD had a 13-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist double-double. The Cup Final was a closely fought battle throughout, with both teams putting on an offensive display.
Doncic pretty clearly fought back tears when watching a pregame video tribute, a clear sign of what the young star has meant to the franchise. When they announced his name during their starting lineup introductions, the fans’ response was roof-raising thunderous applause. This visual left no doubt about how much Dallas fans appreciate their star player. As the game neared its conclusion, Doncic left the court to a standing ovation with 1:34 remaining.
For the first half, there was no stopping Doncic as he took over the scoring column. He had 31 of his 45 points before intermission and copped 14 in the first quarter. His historic debut was almost overshadowed by the five turnovers he forced from the Lakers. The Mavericks jumped on the Warriors with a 30-26 lead at the first quarter break. Naji Marshall had an important outing, scoring 23 points and dishing out eight assists.
In the second quarter, Luka was in rare form, scoring 17 of Dallas’s 34 points in that period. He knocked down three triples during this stretch, giving fans a glimpse of the elite floor spacing he can bring. He even got it going from all over the court, connecting on 16 of 28 shots from the floor. He made seven of 10 tries from 3-point range, his 46th career 40-point game.
Doncic’s performance was incredible, but the Lakers played solidly and controlled backbreaking parts of the game to emerge victorious. PJ Washington contributed 14 points for Los Angeles, as they clinched a spot in the playoffs with this win.
