Lakers 112 vs 97 Mavericks summary, stats, scores and highlights | Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas
The tribute to Luka was incredible. The fans showed their enteral gratitude and Luka's watery eyes and quivering lips told you just how much this team, this city and this moment means to him.
Luka hasn't forgiven the trade. The fans haven't forgotten their hero.
Luka went to the only place he had ever called home. It was emotional. It was dramatic. It was spectacular. After the game, you could still see the emotions getting the best of him. Dallas did't forget him. He didn't forgive Dallas. Or at least Nico Harrison.
This wasn't the typical reunion for a player and their ex team. Luka still loves Dallas. He may feel betrayed by one person in the organization, but he loves this city and this team. They love him even more. That love was shown at the end of the fourth quarter and you can only imagine there will never be any ill will towards Luka in Dallas. In the end, he didn't want to get traded. He didn't ask for that. Neither did the Mavericks fans. This was the first chapter of many Luka vs. Dallas stories to come.
There were already a shoe in but the Lakers officially clinched a playoff seed with the win in Dallas. They will try to hold off the rest of the pack who are nipping at their heels for the three seed in the West.
With the game in hand, Luka was taken out to get his much deserved standing ovation. JJ Redick talked about how impressed he was with Luka's ability to shake off the emotion and give a resounding performance in Dallas. At the end of the game he took him out so the Dallas fans could give him his flowers.
It was a homecoming that the fans in Dallas will remember, Luka will remember and Nico Harrison will be hoping to forget as soon as possible. Doncic dropped 45 on his old team as they stay in the third spot in the West. Meanwhile the Mavs are looking like they are going to be the 10 seed and need to win two road games in the Play-In just to get to the playoffs.
Luka ended the night with 45 points, but when the Lakers needed someone to step up in the fourth quarter when things were in the balance it was LeBron who stepped to the plate and closed out the Mavs. He had 13 in the fourth to lead LA to a must win victory from Dallas.
The stars were out for Luka's return to Dallas. Patrick Mahomes, Derrick Henry and of course Dirk Nowiztki were in the stadium to watch Luka put on a show.
The Mavs went on a little run after LA took a double digit lead in the 3rd quarter and took the lead at one point in the second half. Luka was quiet after his 31 point first half, but LeBron would counter a flurry from Max Christie who was playing his old team on Wednesdsay night.
Just go back and have a look at the masterclass from Luka in the first half. 31 points. Millions of emotions. An entire city behind him even though he came to Dallas wearing purple and gold.
Luka had 31 points, his first 30 point first half as a Laker after registering 13 as a Maverick since getting drafted. Even though Luka was killing his old team they only went into the half up by 3.
Way before Luka got to 25 points in the first half, the chants of "Fire Nico" were being heard around the stadium. The fact that he had 25 in less than 20 minutes only fueled those chants in Big D.
It was the Luka show on Wednesday from Dallas and LeBron knew that. He let his teammate feast on the Dallas Mavericks in the first half, but when he got his chance to go get a bucket he wasn't about to pass it up. At 40 years old LeBron is still chasing down alley oops and smashing them home like a slam dunk champion.
Luka had 14 in the first quarter and he was just getting started. He was lighting up the home team but the roars from the Dallas crowd only got louder and louder as he continued to light up the score board at American Airlines Center.
How many times have the fans in Dallas seen this step back from Luka? Doncic came out smoldering after an emotional intro that was one of a kind. Luka wiped away the tears, shook off the emotions and put the Mavs to the sword in the first quarter.
It wasn't just about Luka on Wednesday night. Anthony Davis played the Lakers for the first time since leaving LA. While AD had a productive night, this was Luka's night to take the stage and put on a show.
Every time Luka touched the ball the American Airlines Center cheered him on. It was obvious that they haven't got over the mid season trade that reshaped the future of their franchise. Luka didn't take long to get on the board in his first game as a Laker in Dallas.
Luka wanted to retire in Dallas. The city, and the team that drafted him and raised him since he came to the NBA as a teenager embraced him like one of their own. The video, the outpouring of love, and the emotions of the night got the best of Luka as he sat and watched his intro from the Lakers bench. He teared up, his lips quivered and he gave that love back to the fans before dropping 31 on his old team in the first half.
The Los Angeles Lakers went into Dallas knowing that their playoff race was going to take a back seat to the return of Luka Doncic to the American Airlines Center. They had a lot to play for, but Luka walked into the place he used to call home looking to make a statement.
Before he even stepped on the floor the Dallas Mavericks honored their former face of the franchise with a touching video that struck a nerve with Luka.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
Luka Doncic comes back to Dallas and drops 45 in the Lakes must win game from American Airlines Center.
Knecht with the jam and he finishes off the night for LA in Dallas.
Martin back to the line after the foul on Bronny and he hits both FTs.
Martin to the line after the foul on Luka and he hits one of two FTs.
Luka was just taken out and got an incredible ovation from the Dallas crowd. The Dallas kid is back home, and they still love him even though he just dropped 45 on them.
Doncic on the floater and he's got 45 on the night!!!
Timeout Dallas with 1:35 to go.
Doncic might have just closed this game out with a three ball off the step back and they are still cheering him in Dallas.
Washington to the line after the foul on Doncic and he makes one of two.
Doncic on the reverse and he's got 40 points on the night after 31 in the first half!!!
Timeout Lakers with 3:43 to go.
Reaves lays it off to LeBron for the lay up and one down the lane! FT is no good, but he's got 13 in the quarter.
LeBron puts his head down and he lays it up and in!!! He's got 11 in the quarter, 25 on the night!
Timeout DAL with 4:42 to go in the 4th quarter.
Christie to the line after the foul on Hachimura but he misses both FTs with 4:56 to go in the 4th quarter.
Reaves spots up from the top of the key and he hits it!
Washington with back to back threes, this time from the corner!!
LeBron with the follow off the Hachimura missed three and he puts it back up and in.
Washington in the corner and he drills the three ball off the dish from Christie.
Hachimura to the line after the foul on Davis and he his both FTs.
LeBron slashes to the cup and Reaves laid it off for him for the lay up.
James on the baseline drive and he gets the lay up and the foul! FT is good after the foul on Gafford.
Hachimura pulls up from inside the FT line and hits it out of the timeout.
Christie with the steal and he kicks it out to Thompson for three from the wing!!
LeBron lays it up in traffic to break up the 8-0 run from Dallas.
Gafford misses the lay up and Christie follows it up with a rebound and put back dunk. DAL are back in the lead for the first time in a long time.
Davis to the FT line after the foul on Reaves and he hits both.
Davis misses the floater but Gafford is there to follow it up with a tip in.
Davis with the alley oop off the feed from Gafford to start the fourth quarter.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER AND THE LAKES STRETCHED THEIR LEAD TO 7.
LUKA HAS 38 THROUGH 3 QUARTERS.
Gafford down low and he lays it up and in over Luka.
Martin spots up from the top of the key and he hits it with a foot on the line.
Vincent floats it up and in down the lane.
Gafford called for the transition take foul and Luka hits the FTs.
Doncic with the floater in the lane out of the timeout.
Timeout Lakers with 2:48 to go in the third quarter!
Davis off the feed down low from Marshall and he lays it up and in.
Davis to the line after the foul on James and he hits one of two.
Christie off the dribble and he goes strong to the rack for the lay up off the glass.
Marshall with an off balanced floater and gets it to fall out of the timeout.
LeBron lobs it up over the defense and finds Hachimura for the lay up.
Timeout Mavericks with 6:00 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Hachimura drops the three ball off the extra pass from Finney-Smith!
Marshall sinks a three ball and he's the only one keeping the Mavs in this game right now.
LeBron again, this time driving to the rack for another lay up.
LeBron goes right at the defender and lays it up and in off the feed from Doncic.
Marshall comes out of the timeout and sinks a mis range jumper off the dribble.
Doncic finds Hachimura wide open in the corner and he hits the three ball off the break!
Timeout DAL with 7:55 to go in the 3rd quarter!!
Luka to the line after the foul on Lively and he hits both FTs.
LeBron with the fader outside of the lane and he drills it. He's in double digits now.
Doncic dribbles past Lively and lays it up and in off the glass.
Davis down low and he puts it up and in down low and he goes to the line after the foul on Hayes. FT is no good.
Marshall to the line after the foul on Reaves and he hits one of two FTs.
WE ARE BACK IN DALLAS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
Luka has 31 points in the first half in his return to Dallas. No one could have imagined this kind of night, especially after the intro Luka got to start the game. He let the emotions fly, but gathered himself and dropped the hammer on Dallas in the first 24 minutes of the game.
No team knows how Luka plays better than the Mavs. Does that mean they were going to stop him? Of course not. He was 11/16 and 6/8 from downtown in the first half.
LeBron knows this is Luka's night, but he had his highlights throughout the first half. He's got just 8 points but he has let Doncic take the stage and wow the crowd tonight.
Luka was locked in from the start and Dallas had no answer for him. He was hitting everything that he put up in the first half. He had 14 in the first 8 minutes of the game.
How many times have the Mavs fans seen this step back over the last few years. There is certainly a mix of emotions around the American Airlines Center. They might be rooting more for Luka than they are for their team tonight.
Tonight isn't just about Luka. AD was also involved in that trade. Both of them got off to a quick start, but Luka took over for the rest of the first half.
Luka didn't take long to get on the board. He wanted to put on a show tonight, and he has done that so far.
It was an emotional introduction in Dallas. Luka's eyes filled with tears. His lips were quivering. He was obviously affected by his return to Dallas, but that only fueled him to start the game.
Tonight was always going to be about Luka, and he has taken the stage and reminded Nico Harrison and the Mavs of who he is and what he can do.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF AND THE LAKERS LEAD BY 3!!!
It's been the Luka show here in Dallas. He's got 31 in front of the fans in Dallas who have shown him all sorts of love tonight.
Martin into the lane and he floats it up and in.
Reaves lays it up and in after Doncic found him streaking to the rim.
Washington with the slam off the Davis dish down low.
Doncic on the step back and he drills the three ball!!! He's got 31 in just 18 minutes!!
Marshall with a floater in the lane over traffic.
Luka goes to the rack out of the timeout and lays it up and in off the glass.
Martin with the steal and the score off the transition break.
Timeout Lakers with 2:28 to go in the first half!
Davis on the alley oop lay up off the lob from Marshall.
Luka to the line and he hits one of two FTs after the foul on Marshall.
Fire Nico is ringing out around the American Airlines Center, once again.
Goodwin sends Washington to the line and he hits both FTs.
Doncic fades away and hits the three ball with a defender in his face! He's got 25 in the first half!!
Martin lays it up and in down the lane off the feed from Christie.
Doncic to the line after the foul on Davis and he hits one of two FTs.
Christie with the pull up off the dribble and he hits it from the elbow.
Finney-Smith drops a thee ball off the feed from Doncic!
Doncic was left wide open from the perimeter and he strokes the three ball! He's got 21 on the night!
Christie drops a three ball off the kick out from Davis.
Reaves follows up the Finney-Smith miss with a tip slam.
Doncic takes it to the bucket and lays it up and the Mavs need a timeout out.
It's 40-40 with 7:24 in the first half.
Doncic off the bench and back on the board with a runner from out side the lane. He's got 16 already.
Finney-Smith to the bucket and Reaves found him for the lay up.
Gafford with the lay up down low off the feed from Marshall.
Marshall with the short jumper in the lane off the feed from Dinwiddie.
Reaves lobs it up and LeBron hang in the air to slam down the alley oop!
Washington misses the lay up but Gafford is there with the board and the put back.
Reaves to the line after the foul on Gafford and he hits both FTs.
Gafford across the lane and he finds Marshall for the slam.
Finney-Smith dumps it off on the baseline to Vanderbilt for the slam.
LeBron to the ack and he gets an easy lay up off the offensive board from Vanderbilt.
Gafford to the line after the Reaves fould and he hits both FTs.
Luka had 14 of the Lakers first 24 points to start the game, but DAL lead 30-26 thanks to Marshall's 9 points.
This was the video they played around the American Airlines Center. He loves Dallas. Dallas still loves him.
This night is all about Luka Doncic, all though you wouldn't know it looking at the Lakers Twitter account. They haven't posted a single thing, but we have you covered with Luka highlights in the first quarter.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
Luka had 14 in the first quarter, but it's the Mavs who lead 30-26 after a quarter.
Marshall with the steal and he gets bumped by LeBron to earn two FTs. He hits both at the charity stripe.
Marshall with the tough off balanced shot and he hits it in the lane.
LeBron to the line after the foul on Martin ad he hits both FTs.
Dinwiddie to the line after the foul on Hayes and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Lakers with 2:25 to go in the 1st quarter.
Marshall answers back with a deep three ball, but so far Luka is getting the biggest cheers every time he gets the ball.
Luka on the wing and he hits a spot up three!!! He's got 14 of the Lakers 24 points in the first quarter!
Christie to the cup and he lays it up for an easy deuce off the feed from Martin.
Doncic on the step back and he drops the patented triple from the wing!
Doncic to the line after the foul on Lively and he hits one of two.
LIvely with another lay up and the Lakers have had trouble keeping him quiet early on.
Timeut wiwth 5:32 in the first quarter.
Hachimura on the board with his first three ball of the night from the corner.
Dinwiddie answers back with a three from the wing.
Doncic in the corner for three and the home crowd erupts for Luka even though he's in different colors.
Davis with the jam off the feed from Dinwiddie.
Doncic with his first bucket of the night as he gets into the paint and hits the short floater.
Reaves to the cup and he lays it up and in from down low.
Lively in the lane and he hits the floater off the dump off from Thompson.
In the meantime, Dallas has taken a 10-7 lead five minutes into the game.
Luka off the dribble and he floats it up and in from the paint as the crowd goes wild!
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS NICO HARRISON???
Luka just touched the ball for the first time and the crowd went wild. He turned the ball over and it led to a lively dunk on the other end.
LeBron just went to the line and hits two FTs to start the game.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS, AND I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE SCORES, BUT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE VIDEO BOTH OF THE VIDEO ON THE JUMBOTRON AND LUKA REACTING TO IT.
I don't think I've seen a more emotional intro in my life. I watched MJ's comeback to Chicago after his first retirement. I've seen LeBron back in Cleveland. This was special. Both Luka and Dallas aren't over the trade. Luka hasn't forgiven and Dallas will never forget.
Luka is watching the homage with tears in his eyes. He had to look away once or twice and the video ended with his towels in his face covering up the tears in his eyes.
This dude still loves Dallas. Dallas still loves Luka. He just had a huge hug with Marquif Morris who came to LA with him while he was introduced to the crowed here in Dallas
It's nothing but love for Luka around American Airlines Center. There is an homage video on the jumbotron that is being played around the stadium right now. I would love to know where Nico Harrison is during this.
Lakers first five
Rui Hachimura is back in the starting five after sitting out last game with an injury. He joins Hayes, LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves in the starting line up for this massive match up in Luka\s return to Dallas.
Western Conference Standings
Taking a look at the Western Conference Standing we see the Dallas Mavericks way down in 10th place. They are three games clear of the Suns and at the very least should secure a Play-In spot, but that’s about it. They would take on a Grizzlies, Warriors, Timberwolves or Nuggets team in the first game of the Play-In and that is going to complicate their playoff chances. The Lakers on the other hands, are in 3rd in the West and their goal from here on out is holding on to the third seed. The Clippers have made a historic jump up the standings as the Nuggets and Warriors fade late in the season. The Lakers have a few more games in which they have to hold on, but the three seed is a real possibility.
Fire Nico signs popping up
There is always a villain in each story and Mavericks fans have had their villain in the crosshairs since the trade way announced a few months ago. Nico Harrison, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, stuck his neck on the line and has been in the crosshairs of Mavs fans ever since sending Luka to LA. First Nico chants rang out in the Mavs first game without Luka. Since then mock funerals have been held. Memorials for the Sloveian have been observed. Meanwhile Nico has become more and more of a scapegoat for the Mavs troubles. With the way things are going now, who can blame Mavs fans?
Things heading south in Dallas
It seems like everything in Dallas has gone south since the Luka trade. Dallas got rid of their franchise player, and brought in Anthony Davis to try and make a title run this year. Davis went down in his debut with a groin injury and while he was out Kyrie Irving who was the last remaining star in Dallas was struck down with a torn ACL which will keep him out for the rest of the year and for the start of next year at the very least. There is no star power. There are no playoff chances. There is repeat trip to the title run on the horizon. Luka left and so did a lot of the Mavs fans hope and dreams of returning a title to Dallas any time soon.
Special message at American Airlines
Mavs fans haven’t forgetten Luka, and they may never. Luka wanted to retire in Dallas. He said that on multiple occasions. He took them to a Western Conference Final, and then the NBA Finals and was ready to live his NBA life in Dallas. Those in the front office didn’t feel the same way as their franchise player or the majority of their fans that fill the American Airlines Center each and every night. Mavs fans, and the entire franchise are opening their arms in Luka’s return to Dallas. The entire stadium in covered in shirts with Slovenian text reading “thanks for everything.”
Star watch: Lakrers
The Lakers had LeBron and Austin Reaves. LeBron was obviously star, Austin Reaves was the second scorer on the Lakers, but since Luka got to town things have changed. LeBron is no longer the top option. Reaves is one of the top scorers in the league as the second option to Luka, and Luka is the star of the show in LA. On top of all that, the Lakers have become one of the top teams in the West, and a side that no team is going to want to see in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Star watch: Dallas
There is just one star remaining in Dallas, and it’s not Luka Doncic. The newest star in Big D is Anthony Davis, but he is an aging star than is awfully injury prone. Davis, in the 7 games he has played, is averaging 20.6 points 9.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in Dallas. That’s a far stretch from the 25.7 points and 12 rebounds he was averaging LA. He got hurt in his first game in Dallas, but since then has been a shade from his best version.
Last game: Dallas
The Mavericks took on the LA Clippers for the second of two games from LA and got blown out for the second time in two games. After losing by 23 the night before they got dropped by 31 over the weekend. Ivica Zubac went 11/11 and put up 25 points and had 10 rebounds and James Harden had 29 and 14 assists and the Clippers went wire to wire and built up a big lead over the Mavs in the fourth quarter.
Last game: Lakers
The Lakers went back to Oklahoma City for a second straight game. After lighting up the scoreboard at the Paycor Center on Sunday afternoon, they had a similar start, but faded late. For the second straight game they put up 15 threes in the first half, which was enough to tie a frachsice record and kept it close until the 4th quarter. Luka Doncic got thrown out of the game with 8:00 to go in the 4th and from there the Thunder went on a big run and ran away with the game thanks to 42 points from SGA.
We are live from American Airlines Center
Hello everyone and welcome to Dallas where the Mavericks are still not over the midseason trade that sent their franchise player to Los Angeles and left a city gutted without their face of the city, franchise and future. Luka Doncic was sent to LA in a secret move that almost no one around the league knew about. Luka was hurt, betrayed, and heartbroken. Those days are gone and now he is a Laker through and through. He and the new look Lake Show are in the running for a top spot in the West while the Mavs will be lucky just to scrape the post season scene.
Lakers vs. Mavericks
It’s the game that everyone had circled on their calendars since early February. The Dallas Mavericks traded away a generational player over night and sent him to join forces with one of the most historic franchises in the league and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Tonight Luka Doncic makes his return to Dallas as the Lakers take on the Mavericks from American Airlines Center and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of this can’t miss match up from Big D.