Tuesday night’s matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks had all the elements of a must-watch game. A packed crowd, two Western Conference contenders, and a major storyline—Luka Doncic facing his former team for the first time. If he had any emotions about the reunion, he didn’t let them affect his performance. Instead, he delivered a triple-double, helping the Lakers secure a 107-99 victory.
The Lakers came out strong, feeding off the energy in the building. Doncic missed his first shot but quickly got going with an easy layup. Moments later, after the officials let some physical play slide, he picked up a technical foul—a moment that only seemed to fire him up. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving wasted no time for Dallas, scoring 10 quick points to briefly put the Mavericks in front.
That lead didn’t last. Doncic responded with back-to-back three-pointers, turning to the Dallas bench with added intensity. By the end of the first quarter, he had nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists, making an early impact. With Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht stepping up, the Lakers built a solid halftime lead, going into the break up 59-51.
Dallas responded in the third quarter, with Irving, Klay Thompson, and Spencer Dinwiddie knocking down key shots from deep. The Lakers’ offense struggled, scoring just 19 points in the period. A once comfortable lead had vanished, and L.A. found itself clinging to a narrow 78-77 advantage heading into the fourth.
LeBron James took charge in the final period. After a quiet start, he ignited the Lakers’ offense with a smooth fadeaway, followed by two more buckets and a key assist. Just as L.A. seemed ready to pull away, Thompson answered with consecutive threes for Dallas, tying the game at 88. The momentum shifted back and forth, setting up a tense finish.
Doncic made his presence felt at the perfect moment, finding LeBron for a clutch three-pointer to seal his triple-double. From there, James took over, pouring in 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, including a thunderous dunk that secured the victory. Doncic stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and two blocks, putting together a dominant performance in a game that seemed personal.
For the Lakers, this win wasn’t just about beating Dallas—it was about proving that their reshaped roster can compete at the highest level. Doncic’s transition to L.A. appears seamless, and his chemistry with LeBron is already showing promise. With a tough back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Clippers ahead, the Lakers will need to maintain this momentum as the Western Conference battle intensifies.
