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In a highly emotional return to the American Airlines Center, Luka Doncic faced his former team for the first time since the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. After the Lakers' 112-97 victory over the Mavs, Anthony Davis approached Doncic on the court and shared words of support. Davis later revealed his message to reporters.
“Both of us were caught off [guard], surprised by [the trade],” said the newest Mavericks star. “But that was two months ago. It happened. There's nothing we can do about it now. Just told him, ‘Good game.' He played a hell of a game. Just a respect thing.”
Davis knows this is all part of the business and seems to have moved on. Doncic, too, has likely come to terms with it, but on Wednesday, he couldn't shake the emotions.
Luka Doncic's emotional return to Dallas
During the pregame ceremonies, Doncic was visibly emotional and could be seen wiping away tears. However, once the game began, he quickly shifted to focus and delivered a stellar performance.
The Slovenian superstar played a key role in helping the Lakers secure the win with a well-rounded effort. Doncic matched his season-high with 45 points in 38 minutes, adding eight rebounds and six assists to his impressive performance.
It was tough for both Doncic and the fans to come to terms with such a sudden change. After the victory, Doncic credited his Lakers teammates and coaches for helping him stay focused throughout the game.
“They all had my back,” Doncic explained. “Everybody had my back, from coaches to players, and we're trying to build something special here. That was really, really, really nice to see.”
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Anthony Davis, facing his former team for the first time, struggled to find his shooting rhythm. With just 13 points, his third-lowest total since joining the Mavericks, he still contributed with 11 rebounds and six assists.
Playoff implications of the Lakers' win over the Mavericks
Mavs fans not only saw what they lost with Doncic playing for the opposing team but also watched the Lakers lock in a playoff berth on their home court. They now sit comfortably within the top six of the Western Conference.
It's a significant achievement for the Lakers, who avoided the play-in for the first time since 2020. But the real work is just beginning. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Lakers are in a strong position. If they continue to build momentum, they could make a serious run with Doncic leading the way.
With two games left, the Lakers face the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers. Winning either game would secure the third seed in the Western Conference. A loss, however, would drop them into a tight race with just 1.5 games separating the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets and eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Mavericks, a game behind the Sacramento Kings, are also in the mix, but no matter how the standings shake out, these two teams will meet in the 9/10 matchup of the Play-In Tournament.
