Emotional return for Luka Doncic and Mavericks fans in his first game at Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
Doncic’s 46th career 40-point game on Wednesday was complemented by eight rebounds and six assists, while connecting on 16-of-28 from the floor and 7-of-10 on three-pointers.
LeBron James posted 27 points and seven boards, and Rui Hachimura added 15 points as the Lakers (49-31) bolstered their grip on the third spot in the Western Conference.
Naji Marshall contributed 23 points and eight assists for Dallas, P.J. Washington scored 14, and Anthony Davis – in his first game for Dallas against his old side – finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The result leaves Dallas (38-42) still requiring one more win to secure the final play-in position in the West.
Doncic, traded from Dallas to Los Angeles for Davis as part of a blockbuster deal on February 2, became emotional during a pregame video tribute, before receiving a deafening applause when his name was called during the starting lineup announcements.
Doncic, who averaged a franchise-record 28.6 points in 422 games for Dallas, received rousing cheers with every possession or score, particularly early.
His 14 first-quarter points were offset by five Los Angeles turnovers, as the Marshall-led Mavericks moved ahead 30-26 at the first break.
Doncic dominated the second period, draining a trio of three-pointers and scoring 17 of his team’s 34 points, as Los Angeles took a 60-57 lead at halftime.
James, who had just eight first-half points as he played second fiddle to Doncic, came alive in the third and helped the Lakers’ cushion balloon to 78-65, before Marshall single-handedly weathered the storm for Dallas and trimmed the gap back to 83-76 with a quarter to play.
Max Christie’s tip-dunk edged the Mavs in front 84-83, but their time ahead was brief as James spearheaded a 9-0 Los Angeles response inside 90 seconds, and the Lakers were never remotely threatened again.
Doncic’s step-back three-pointer and strong drive blew the margin out to 110-94 before the five-time All-NBA First-Team selection substituted out with 1:34 remaining to a standing ovation.
Both teams play their regular-season home finales on Friday night, when the Mavericks take on Toronto, and the Lakers host Houston.
