Lakers vs Mavericks: Luka Doncic Leads Los Angeles to Victory in First Game Against Former Team

26/02/2025

4 min read

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 107-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks in the first matchup between the two teams since the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Doncic, who joined the Lakers as part of a three-way trade this month, recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. The 25-year-old guard played against his former team for the first time since the move and helped the Lakers to their third straight win. LeBron James scored 27 points for the Lakers, who are now fourth in the Western Conference, while Kyrie Irving scored 35 points for the ninth-placed Mavericks.

The game was highly anticipated, with many fans eager to see how Doncic would perform against his former team. The Mavericks showed a ton of pride defensively, but the Lakers' offense was too much to handle down the stretch. The Lakers clamped down and defended well, with James putting his foot on the pedal at both ends when it counted to close out the game. The triple-double recorded by Doncic was a key factor in the Lakers' win, and his performance was impressive considering it was his first game against his former team.

The Lakers' combination of Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves is going to be tough for opposing defenses to handle, with few teams having three defenders good enough to match up with the three primary Laker ball handlers. However, questions remain for the Lakers, including their defensive performance, particularly on the defensive glass. The Mavericks generated several wide open looks from 3-point range, and a better shooting opponent could have more success with that many clean attempts from deep. The Lakers' coach, JJ Redick, complained about his team's work on the defensive glass, and it is an area that the team needs to improve on. The defensive performance of the Lakers will be crucial in their upcoming games, and they need to work on their rebounding to become a more well-rounded team.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, are facing several challenges, including injuries to key players such as Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II. The team is currently ninth in the Western Conference, and their chances of making the playoffs are uncertain. However, having a big, physical roster around the brilliant individual talents of Irving could be a formula that works for the Mavericks if they can get healthy. The team's performance in the play-in tournament will be crucial, and they need to work on their overall game to make a deep run in the playoffs. Here are the match scores:

Lakers: 107
Mavericks: 99

The Lakers' win has improved their record to 15-4 in their past 19 games, and they are now thinking about not only home-court advantage in the first round but also potentially finishing as high as second in the West.

In other NBA news, the Memphis Grizzlies required overtime to beat the Phoenix Suns 151-148 at home, while the Cleveland Cavaliers tightened their grip on top spot in the East with a 122-82 win at the Orlando Magic. The Milwaukee Bucks lost 100-97 at the Houston Rockets, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's 27 points. The Lakers' win over the Mavericks was a significant one, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs in their upcoming games. With the combination of Doncic, James, and Reaves, the Lakers have a strong chance of making a deep run in the playoffs, but they need to work on their defensive performance and rebounding to become a more well-rounded team.