The Dallas Mavericks fell to a 97-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas in arguably their biggest home game of the season. It was the first time Luka Doncic returned to Dallas after the franchise traded him in February. While this is his second game against the Mavericks, it’s his first back in Dallas.
Doncic absolutely dominated in this win, putting up 45 points (16-28 FG), eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in the best performance of the evening by a mile. LeBron James did support him admirably, especially in the fourth quarter, ending the game with 27 points (11-20 FG) and seven rebounds. Rui Hachimura had a crucial 15-point (5-10 FG) contribution as well.
NOBODY WAS STOPPING LUKA MAGIC TONIGHT 🪄 pic.twitter.com/UlC7n9mn2z
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 10, 2025
Fans were ecstatic for Doncic and the Lakers to have pulled this win off.
“Dallas fans being reminded of what they’re missing,” said a fan with a picture of a shocked dog.
“Hell of a game for Luka. F**k you Nico,” said one angry fan profaning at the Mavs GM.
“Luka smoked Dallas. Nico talked all that “defense win championships” and “mamba mentality” bullshit, just for Anthony Davis to be playing like he’s Drew Eubanks,” said one fan about the embarrassing night the Mavericks had to endure.
“Luka was holding back tears and could barely even watch that tribute. Top 5 player in the world who wanted to spend his entire career in that Mavs jersey and they shipped him out. I will never understand that move. Ever,” said one fan while reflecting on how we’re in a situation where Dallas traded Luka.
“Luka, Laker nation got your back for life,” said one fan, promising the loyalty of Lakers fans to him.
“That’s a great stat from the broadcast: Luka the only player besides Wilt to score 45 points both for and against the same team in the same season. Bonkers,” said Rachel Nichols as Doncic scripts NBA history once again.
This was a revenge game for Anthony Davis, too. However, the former Lakers center fell flat. He had 13 points (5-13 FG), 11 rebounds, and six assists in a game where he couldn’t have a winning impact if he tried. Another former Laker, Max Christie, came off the bench to nearly match Davis’ points total, scoring 11 points (5-8 FG) in a tough game.
Otherwise, Naji Marshall led the team by starting at point guard and ending the night with 23 points (9-14 FG) and eight assists. However, this isn’t the path to competitiveness in the NBA, something the Mavericks know just as well.
The loss dropped Dallas to a 38-42 record. It shouldn’t be a problem, as the Phoenix Suns are mathematically eliminated themselves. It could be one in the circumstance where the Suns win all their remaining games and the Mavericks get blown out of all their remaining games, but the Mavs are already penciled into No. 10.
The Lakers have officially clinched a position in the top six of the West with this win, the first time since the Play-In was introduced in 2021 that they are skipping the Play-In for a direct Playoff spot. They now have a 49-31 record with two games left to play, and they don’t need to worry about the teams below them anymore.
