Los Angeles is no stranger to glitz, glamor, and massive sporting events, and Tuesday night was no exception as the Dallas Mavericks came to the City of Angels to face off against Luka Dončić and the Lakers. It had only been three weeks since Dončić joined the Lakers from the Mavericks in a trade, and fans were excited to see the Slovenian star face his former team for the first time – with the Lakers winning the game 107-99.
Though the atmosphere was electric at Crypto.com Arena, Dončić appeared calm, cool, and collected before tipoff. The five-time All-Star was seen during warmups laughing and joking with former teammate Spencer Dinwiddie, casually draining a shot from halfcourt.
It didn’t take long for Dončić to lock in once this “revenge game” tipped off. The 25-year-old star was assessed a technical foul for arguing with the officials less than three minutes in after he felt they missed a foul against him. But Dončić kept his focus and finished the first quarter with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. After hitting back-to-back 3-pointers late in the quarter, Dončić could be seen staring down his former coaches and teammates on the Mavericks bench.
By halftime, Dončić was up to 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, with the Lakers leading 59-51. While the Mavericks seemed focused on trying to quell their former superstar, the strategy left plenty of opportunities for Dončić’s new Laker teammates to shine. Austin Reaves dropped 20 points, with LeBron James leading the team with 27 points.
Dončić finished with impressive stats, sealing the deal with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his first triple-double with Los Angeles. Reflecting on the night, Dončić, when speaking to broadcaster TNT, said, “I don’t know how to explain it. I think in the first quarter, second quarter, I didn’t know what was happening. It was just different. I can’t even explain how I felt.” He later added, “I’m exhausted.”
While Dončić has previously expressed satisfaction about joining the “greatest club in the world,” some manner of revenge might have been on his mind heading up to the matchup, particularly since he led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season before being traded reportedly against his wishes.
Dallas’s guard Kyrie Irving noted how aware the players were of the narrative, stating after their loss to the Golden State Warriors, “The narrative is already written. I don’t know what else I could really add to it.” Lakers coach JJ Redick commented on Dončić’s ability to handle the emotions, saying, “Every day he’s been with us, it’s becoming more normal.”
It was also significant for Anthony Davis, another major part of the trade bringing Dončić to LA, who received warm cheers as the team honored him with a video tribute before the game. Davis, who is nursing an abdominal injury, watched the game from the bench.
The Lakers seemed to continue building momentum from previous games, now boasting the best record at 15-4 since January 15 and sitting fourth in the Western Conference. The injury-riddled Mavericks are finding their footing more difficult, dropping to ninth place.
The excitement around Doncic’s performance, combined with the energy from the crowd, made for unforgettable moments during the game. Doncic's earlier frustrations seemed to translate positively onto his game as he helped lead the Lakers to victory against his former squad, establishing his importance within his new team.
Clearly, this game wasn’t just about the win but about proving the Lakers’ potential within the competitive Western Conference. Doncic's combination with LeBron James is already showing great promise, and fans are eager to see how this partnership will evolve moving forward.
With the Lakers facing back-to-back tough matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers soon, their focus will need to remain sharp. Yet, Tuesday’s triumph could be the turning point needed to maintain their competitive edge against the league’s best as they aim for playoff contention.