Despite the emotional weight of his return to Dallas, Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic delivered a masterful performance on Wednesday night in his former home. Playing at American Airlines Center for the first time as a visitor since his impactful trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers over two months prior, Doncic showcased the same formidable offensive prowess that Mavericks fans had grown accustomed to, leading Los Angeles to a decisive 112-97 victory.
The 26-year-old Doncic quickly established his offensive dominance, surpassing his season scoring average within the first two quarters by torching the Mavericks for 31 points on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting from the field.
He found his rhythm early from beyond the arc, connecting on an impressive 6-of-8 three-point attempts before halftime. By the end of his 38 minutes on the court, the five-time NBA All-Star had amassed a season-high-tying total of 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, complemented by eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Los Angeles Lakers JJ Redick Wanted Luka Doncic To Hang 50 on Former Team
Following the Lakers’ victory, head coach JJ Redick, who also has ties to the Mavericks organization, humorously expressed mock disappointment that Doncic fell just short of the 50-point mark, as noted by Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints.
“JJ Redick sarcastically said he was ‘disappointed’ because Luka Doncic did not get 50 points tonight.” Mistretta posted to social media.
While the game remained close until the latter stages of the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 87-87 with under eight minutes remaining, a pivotal three-point play by four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James propelled Los Angeles into a lead they would not relinquish. James also played a crucial role in the Lakers’ win, contributing 27 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter.
With this victory, the Lakers, now holding a 49-31 record with two games left to play, solidified their playoff contention and remain in control of their opportunity to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference as they prepare for their home finale against the Houston Rockets on Friday, followed by a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.