Following Friday night's 124-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks, newly-acquired Los Angeles Lakers point guard Isaiah Thomas spoke to members of the media with regards to playing alongside Lonzo Ball.

“Just playing together,” Thomas told Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints during his post-game media availability. “Playing for each other. If we have a play, make it. If not, swing the ball & attack. We did that, both groups did that at a high level tonight. That is all you ask from each & every guy.”

As most hoops fans know, Thomas, now 29 years of age, arrived in Southern California by way of the Cleveland Cavaliers' trade deadline moves. The former Washington Huskies stand-out played 25 minutes in his Staples Center debut, scoring 17 points on 5-12 shooting from the field (2-7 from beyond the arc), four assists, two rebounds, and two steals — all while going perfect from the free-throw line (5-5).

“It was great,” Thomas said of the ovation he received from Lakers fans. “It was a good ovation. To finally be on the home team in L.A. It was a nice feeling. I mean, I've always thought of having that feeling. And I know my family back home is definitely happy about it. I'm just happy we got the win.”

With his team leading by 17 points and the third quarter clock expiring, Thomas knocked down a fading buzzer-beater to squash any hopes of a Mavs comeback.

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The Lakers hammered the smaller Mavs on the glass in Friday's game, outrebounding them 62-29.

Lonzo Ball
ClutchPoints

“We just didn't play hard enough, compete hard enough to win,” Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki told ESPN.

The Lakers, now the 3rd-ranked team in the Pacific Division standings with a 24-34 overall record, will wrap up their current back-to-back set with a match-up against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night inside the Golden 1 Center. Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.