Emotional return for Luka Doncic and Mavericks followers in his first recreation at Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
Luka Doncic scored 31 of his 45 factors within the first half of his extremely anticipated Dallas homecoming because the visiting Los Angeles Lakers locked up a playoff spot with a 112-97 win in opposition to the Mavericks.
Doncic’s forty sixth profession 40-point recreation on Wednesday was complemented by eight rebounds and 6 assists whereas connecting on 16-of-28 from the ground and seven-of-10 on three-pointers.
LeBron James posted 27 factors and 7 boards, and Rui Hachimura added 15 factors because the Lakers (49-31) bolstered their grip on the third spot within the Western Convention.
Naji Marshall contributed 23 factors and eight assists for Dallas, PJ Washington scored 14, and Anthony Davis – in his first recreation for Dallas in opposition to his outdated facet – completed with 13 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
The consequence leaves Dallas (38-42) nonetheless requiring another win to safe the ultimate play-in place within the West.
Doncic, traded from Dallas to Los Angeles for Davis as a part of a blockbuster deal on February 2, turned emotional throughout a pregame video tribute, earlier than receiving a deafening applause when his title was known as in the course of the beginning lineup bulletins.
Doncic, who averaged a franchise-record 28.6 factors in 422 video games for Dallas, acquired rousing cheers with each possession or rating, notably early.
His 14 first-quarter factors had been offset by 5 Los Angeles turnovers, because the Marshall-led Mavericks moved forward 30-26 on the first break.
Doncic dominated the second interval, draining a trio of three-pointers and scoring 17 of his crew’s 34 factors, as Los Angeles took a 60-57 lead at halftime.
James, who had simply eight first-half factors as he performed second fiddle to Doncic, got here alive within the third and helped the Lakers’ cushion balloon to 78-65 earlier than Marshall single-handedly weathered the storm for Dallas and trimmed the hole again to 83-76 with 1 / 4 to play.
Max Christie’s tip-dunk edged the Mavs in entrance 84-83, however their time forward was temporary as James spearheaded a 9-0 Los Angeles response inside 90 seconds, and the Lakers had been by no means remotely threatened once more.
Doncic’s step-back three-pointer and powerful drive blew the margin out to 110-94 earlier than the five-time All-NBA First-Group choice was substituted out with 1:34 remaining to a standing ovation.
Each groups play their regular-season dwelling finales on Friday evening when the Mavericks tackle Toronto, and the Lakers host Houston.
