Luka Doncic Leads Lakers Comeback Win Over Mavericks

Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas was always going to be emotional, but few could have predicted the high drama and late-game heroics that unfolded at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026. The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by Dončić’s brilliance and a stunning fourth-quarter comeback, edged out the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 in a contest that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

It’s been nearly a year since Dončić’s blockbuster trade from Dallas to Los Angeles—a move that stunned the basketball world and forever altered the trajectory of both franchises. In his second trip back to the city he once called home, Dončić showed exactly why he remains one of the NBA’s brightest stars, pouring in 33 points, dishing out 11 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds. With this win, Dončić improved to a perfect 4-0 against his former team since the trade, a stat that surely stings for Mavericks faithful but cements his legacy as a player who thrives under pressure.

“Obviously, there’s always going to be emotions,” Dončić said postgame, reflecting on his Dallas homecoming. “I was happy to be back here. I went to my house. I saw my cars. But obviously it’s always going to be emotions. I really appreciate how they cheered for me when I was introduced. It’s always going to be a special place for me.”

The night didn’t start brightly for Los Angeles. The Lakers missed seven of their first ten shots, struggling to find rhythm against a Mavericks defense determined to slow Dončić. After a sluggish opening, Dončić responded with aggression, notching 12 points in the first quarter and guiding the Lakers to a nine-point lead after one. Head coach JJ Redick’s tactical shift to a 2-3 zone defense aimed to exploit Dallas’s struggles from beyond the arc, as the Mavericks entered the game ranked near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting.

But basketball is a game of runs, and the Mavericks came out of halftime like a team possessed. Dallas opened the third quarter on a furious 16-0 run, flipping the script and seizing a 15-point lead early in the fourth. The energy inside American Airlines Center was electric, and for a moment, it looked like Dončić’s undefeated streak against his old squad might be in jeopardy. The Lakers, meanwhile, endured a brutal 10-possession scoreless stretch in the third, allowing Dallas to take control.

Yet, if there’s one thing this Lakers team has developed since Dončić’s arrival, it’s resilience. Redick made a bold move midway through the fourth, rolling out a small-ball lineup featuring Dončić, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jake LaRavia. The move paid immediate dividends, as Los Angeles outscored Dallas 36-17 over the final 9:38. The Lakers’ defense tightened, and their offense found a new gear.

Rui Hachimura emerged as the unlikely hero in crunch time, delivering back-to-back three-pointers—including a four-point play—that gave the Lakers their first lead since the third quarter at 108-106. “I think we were sharing the ball today and Luka was getting double-teamed in the last five minutes. So, I think that was a good look for us,” Hachimura said. “We talked about how we had to share the ball and find each other and I ended up shooting the last shot. So, yeah, I think it was good by the whole team.”

Hachimura finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 6-for-13 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep. His teammates were quick to shower him with praise. “He’s a laser. He’s a fantastic shooter. The four-point play followed by the three, that seven-point swing where we’re down five and go up two in the matter of 30 seconds was huge,” Redick said.

Marcus Smart, who contributed 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, also made his mark with a putback layup after a missed Hachimura three, putting the Lakers up 110-107 with 1:40 left. Smart played through a dislocated right index finger, matter-of-factly explaining, “I was like, ‘I don’t want to come out of the game, so I’m trying to pop it back in real quick.’ It was able to go back in.”

LeBron James, ever the steadying force, chipped in 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. His tip-in with 1:30 remaining extended the Lakers’ lead to 112-107—a cushion they wouldn’t relinquish. “Everybody had a great game,” Dončić said, applauding the team’s 26 assists on 40 made field goals. “The ball was shared.”

Dončić’s impact wasn’t limited to offense. In the fourth quarter, he recorded six consecutive defensive stops, including drawing a game-sealing charge on Naji Marshall. “Just a fantastic job from him,” Redick said. “Then makes sort-of the game-sealing defensive play with the charge on [Naji] Marshall. He was fantastic in the fourth quarter. Just picked apart their defense down the stretch.”

Historical milestones were also in play. Dončić became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,500 career three-pointers, a testament to his evolution as a scorer. The Dallas crowd, still appreciative despite his new colors, serenaded him with chants of “We love you Luka” during his pregame routine—a gesture that clearly touched the Slovenian star.

For Dallas, Max Christie led the way with 24 points, while Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, and Brandon Williams also finished in double figures. But the Mavericks couldn’t withstand the Lakers’ late surge, and the loss dropped them to 19-27 on the season.

The Lakers, on the other hand, improved to 27-17, keeping them in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. They’re now tied in the win column with the Houston Rockets for fourth place, and with the trade deadline looming, there’s chatter that Los Angeles may look to bolster its roster—especially with up to eight players slated to become free agents next season. The return of Austin Reaves, who’s been sidelined with a left calf strain since late December, is expected within the next ten days, offering a timely boost to a squad that’s battled inconsistency and injuries.

“The intent to play the right way was there throughout the game,” Redick noted. “Some errors, I would say, but basketball is an imperfect game and there will be errors. Our team stayed with our intent to play the right way.”

With the win, the Lakers avoided a two-game skid and kept their Grammy road trip on track. Next up: a showdown with the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City on January 26. For Dončić, it’s another chance to keep writing his remarkable Lakers chapter—one that, for now, includes a perfect record against his former team and a growing list of accolades.

As the final buzzer sounded and Dončić exchanged handshakes with former teammates, the message from Dallas fans was clear: the city’s love for its former star remains undiminished. But on this night, it was the Lakers who left with the win, and Dončić who once again proved he’s the man for the big moment.