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Luka Dončić reunited with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, and confirmed them precisely what they gave up once they executed essentially the most stunning commerce in NBA historical past.
The Slovenian celebrity recorded his first triple-double as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in a 107-99 win towards his previous staff. He completed with 19 factors on 6-of-17 taking pictures, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves weren’t shabby both, every recording at the very least 20 factors, nevertheless it was Dončić’s night time, as so many anticipated from a participant reported to be livid about getting traded at nighttime.
Dončić got here out of the gate clearly gunning to humiliate his previous staff. He stared down their bench after making one of his first 3-pointers and confirmed up in all places when he was on the court docket. That included top-of-the-line assists of the season, when he whipped the ball behind his head for a no-look move to Austin Reaves.
The Crypto.com Area crowd joined in, directing “Thanks, Nico” chants at Mavericks normal supervisor Nico Harrison, who was within the constructing, a number of occasions. To their credit score, the Mavericks shook off the early onslaught and had the sport shut once more by halfway by the third quarter.
They made the Lakers uncomfortable on protection, till a last run pushed L.A. up a number of scores with two minutes to go. After a gradual first half, James began making the performs that make you neglect he is 40 years previous. And that is why fairly a number of individuals thought permitting him to affix forces with Dončić was a mistake.
Afterward, Dončić admitted that dealing with his former staff wasn’t straightforward.
Luka Doncic on enjoying his former staff for the primary time tonight: “Generally I didn’t know what I used to be doing [out there] … I’m simply glad it’s over.”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 26, 2025
As eventful as Tuesday’s sport was, it was simply the preface to what would be the massive occasion: Dončić’s return to Dallas on April 9. That can be required looking ahead to any fan of the NBA. And, you realize, drama.
Here is the way it all went down at Yahoo Sports activities:
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Lakers performed 24 minutes with each LeBron James & Luka Doncic on court docket tonight.
They performed 11 minutes with Doncic on with out James.
They performed 13 minutes with James on with out Doncic.
1 of LeBron or Luka on always.
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) February 26, 2025
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The Mavs scratched and clawed their means out of a 16-point deficit, and had a number of possibilities — a pair of 3s by Naji Marshall, one other by Klay Thompson — to go on prime halfway by the fourth quarter. All of them got here up empty, although, and a 14-point fourth quarter from LeBron James was sufficient to slam the door shut. Luka will get his first triple-double as a Laker (19 factors, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, two blocks) in a 107-99 win over his former staff.
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FINAL: Lakers 107, Mavericks 99
Luka Dončić was as marketed, from passes to pettiness. He will get his first triple-double as a Laker and, with slightly assist from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, will get a win over a staff he’s going to carry a grudge towards for some time.
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Professional tip, Mavs: May need to get a physique on 23 in purple and gold. Man with “James” on the again of his jersey.
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Nice work by the Lakers protection there: Dorian Finney-Smith chases Kyrie Irving excessive of the ball display screen; Luka steps as much as contest Kyrie’s pull-up, forcing him to drop the ball off to a rolling Naji Marshall; LeBron slides as much as cease Marshall within the paint; DFS sprints from the highest of the important thing to the nook to remove PJ Washington’s nook 3; LeBron slides alongside the baseline to drive PJ into an ungainly reverse layup strive that misses all the pieces.
Push off the miss, Luka kicks it forward to LeBron with a deep seal within the paint, dunk. Lakers by 5, timeout Mavs. And all of it begins with on-a-string rotations.
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Whoa. LeBron airballed a free throw. Don’t see that every single day.
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The Lakers are getting a ton of open 3’s with Dallas scrambling defensively, however they don’t seem to be hitting many.
They’re now 11 for 40 (27.5%), whereas the Mavs are 16 for 38 (42.1%).
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 26, 2025
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We may be 5 and a half minutes away from Nico Harrison making essentially the most happy stroll out of a constructing in human historical past.
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Klay has by some means caught hearth within the fourth. And the sport is tied at 91. Dallas is discovering offense as a result of the protection is there. On a string. Aggressive.
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Luka Doncic will get his tenth help on a LeBron James 3-pointer and he formally has his first triple-double as a Laker with 17 factors and 15 rebounds, plus three blocks and two assists.
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LeBron James put the Lakers again up 5 with a good looking transition bucket, however Klay Thompson simply scored thrice in 4 possessions to tie it.
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You hear coaches say it on a regular basis: “Make them really feel you.” The purpose defensively is to drive the offense out of its consolation zone, drive opponents to do one thing they don’t need to do; with their ball stress, excessive pickup factors, switches, aggressive blitzes and connectivity, the Mavs made the Lakers really feel them within the third. The sport’s within the mud now. Can the Lakers get it again to glitz and glamour?
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The Lakers offense has by some means grinded to a halt within the third quarter. LeBron not in rhythm, they mustered solely 19 within the third.
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It is 78-77 Lakers on the finish of the third quarter. The Mavericks had a number of possibilities to take the lead and failed, however they’re nonetheless undoubtedly the staff with momentum now.
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The Mavs don’t have a lot wholesome measurement proper now, however they do have some high-quality complementary wings. Christie, Marshall and Dinwiddie have all made contributions tonight, and now Danté Exum is becoming a member of them, with 5 fast factors and a self-sacrificial low-man rotation to drive LeBron James right into a turnover. Actually scrappy efficiency by Dallas right here within the third.
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Dante Exum is down clutching his head after a HARD elbow to the face from LeBron James. Seemed unintentional and never a foul, however that needed to harm. Officers are reviewing as a flagrant.
