Luka Doncic Shines in Return to Dallas, Punches Lakers’ Ticket to Playoffs

Luke Doncic returned to Dallas for the first time since joining the Lakers with his head held high.

He left with it even higher.

The ex-Maverick had big shoes to fill coming back to his former arena to face his former team

He could have gotten lost in the lights, tried to do too much, or become intimidated by the moment. Instead, he took his play to the next level.

(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Nobody knew how Doncic’s return to Dallas would go. The fans obviously loved him during his time there, but there has been some animosity since the trade. Everyone got their answer on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks kicked off the matchup against the Lakers with a special tribute video to Doncic

The fans cheered early when he got the ball and rooted for him to do well. Even with the outcome not working out for Dallas, everyone seemed happy to see him play.

A Return Home

After the touching opening ceremony, the then-teary-eyed Doncic took the floor and went to work. He played well, leading the Lakers to a victory and putting the team on his back.

It was a big win for Los Angeles, but the game clearly meant a little bit more to the guard

“So many emotions, can’t even explain it,” Doncic said of the homecoming. “I don’t know how I did it, because when I was watching that video I was like, “There’s no way I’m playing this game.’ But all my teammates had my back. They really supported me, so I appreciate that.”

Being able to put on a show for his old fans was clearly a driving factor for the guard.

He didn’t just lead his team, he put on an offensive clinic. He scored 45 points, matching his best mark as a Laker, to go with eight rebounds and six assists.

Most of that occurred during the first half, as Doncic wanted to attack early. He was almost unstoppable, doing a little bit of everything and reminding the Mavericks exactly what they lost during their blockbuster trade.

Dallas is now 0-2 against the Lakers since trading the guard. The Lakers improved to 49-31, holding onto the sole possession of third place in the West. Dallas has the last play-in spot.

Heading to the Postseason

Doncic’s early play set the tone and kept the Lakers in the game. Though they were down by four in the first quarter, they flipped that to being up by three at the half.

From there, LeBron James made a big push alongside Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves to win the last two quarters.

The Mavericks were competitive for the entire game, and looked like a solid team despite their missing pieces

However, just when things were getting close, the Lakers went on a 14-1 run midway through the fourth quarter and put the game out of reach.

They came out on top 112-97.

The win is huge for the Lakers, as it puts a little more space between themselves and the seventh seed. With the victory, it seems they are all but ready to take a week off while the bottom seeds duke it out in the play-in games.

If they do, it would be a much-needed rest for a team dealing with several small injuries during the end of the year.

Injuries can play a huge factor in the postseason, and the healthier the Lakers (especially the aging James) can be, the better chance they have of making a run.

A Team Coming Together

The Mavericks victory, even if it was fueled by the stakes, is another example of the Lakers hitting their stride at the right time. Everyone is contributing, allowing James and Doncic to lead while the rest of the team supports their play.

It’s a tricky balance, but one that works quite well

The pair are one of the best duos in the league, and they are starting to believe it. Reaves and Hachimura have done a great job of spacing the floor and finding their shots too.

There’s a lot still up in the air when it comes to the postseason, but the Lakers are in a great position. They can tangle with anyone in the West, know how to win, and are getting hot right as the lights are getting bright.

While it’s easy to dwell on their win over Dallas, there’s a lot more basketball play. Doncic knows that. Hopefully, the rest of the teams knows it too.

“All these fans, I really appreciate it,” Doncic said of the win. “All the teammates I had, everyone had my back. I’m just happy. I love these fans, I love this city, but it’s time to move on.”