Luka Doncic recorded his first triple-double as a Laker in dramatic fashion, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-99 victory over his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Tuesday night. In his first game against the franchise that traded him three weeks ago, Doncic finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, despite struggling with his shot (6 of 17).
Emotions ran high as the Slovenian superstar warmly greeted his former teammates but also exchanged a few pointed looks at the Mavericks’ bench. LeBron James took over late, scoring 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, including a crucial layup off a Doncic assist in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.
The Lakers, who were without Anthony Davis due to a groin injury, honored their former star with a tribute video that drew a standing ovation from the home crowd. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 35 points, while Klay Thompson added 22.
With the win, Los Angeles extended its strong stretch, winning for the 13th time in 16 games. Doncic’s triple-double was the 81st of his career, making him seventh on the all-time list. Let’s provide a grade for every Lakers player for his performance on Tuesday night.
LeBron James: B+
Stats: 27 PTS, 12 REB (3 OREB, 9 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 6 TO, 2 PF, 11-17 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, -5, 37 MIN
LeBron once again proved why he’s the Lakers’ closer, taking over in the fourth quarter with 16 of his 27 points to secure the victory. His efficiency (11-of-17 from the field) was impressive, and he controlled the game down the stretch, including a key layup off a Doncic assist in the final moments. However, his six turnovers were costly at times, and his playmaking wasn’t as dominant as usual with just three assists. Still, his rebounding and scoring impact made a huge difference in the win.
Luka Doncic: B+
Stats: 19 PTS, 15 REB (2 OREB, 13 DREB), 12 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 6-17 FG, 1-7 3PT, 6-8 FT, +8, 35 MIN
Doncic recorded his first triple-double as a Laker in a statement game against his former team, tallying 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. Though his shooting woes (6-of-17, 1-of-7 from deep) limited his scoring output, his all-around contributions were undeniable. His three steals and two blocks showed his defensive engagement, and his ability to control the tempo kept the Lakers in command. His +8 plus-minus was one of the best on the team, highlighting his impact beyond scoring.
Austin Reaves: B
Stats: 20 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 5-12 FG, 3-8 3PT, 7-8 FT, +16, 38 MIN
Reaves played a strong complementary role, scoring 20 points while also dishing out five assists. His three-point shooting (3-of-8) provided much-needed spacing, and he was nearly automatic at the free-throw line (7-of-8). His effort on the boards was minimal with just three rebounds, but his +16 plus-minus was the highest of any starter, showing his overall effectiveness on the floor.
Rui Hachimura: B-
Stats: 15 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 6-12 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, +19, 38 MIN
Hachimura delivered a solid offensive performance, contributing 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting while knocking down two threes. He also chipped in six rebounds and two blocks, helping the Lakers protect the paint in Anthony Davis’ absence. While his playmaking was nonexistent (0 assists), his ability to stretch the floor and provide reliable scoring made him a key piece in the win.
Jaxson Hayes: B-
Stats: 8 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 4-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 17 MIN
Stepping up in Davis’ absence, Hayes provided an efficient eight points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes. He was active defensively with two blocks and held his own on the boards, but his three fouls limited his playing time. His finishing around the rim (4-of-5 from the field) was a plus, and he provided solid energy in his minutes.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 3-5 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 14 MIN
Vanderbilt contributed in his usual hustling fashion, scoring eight points on 3-of-5 shooting while knocking down two of his three attempts from deep. He also added two assists but wasn’t much of a presence on the boards, finishing with just three rebounds. His defensive versatility was useful, but his -1 plus-minus showed his minutes didn’t have a huge impact on the game.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 2 PTS, 8 REB (4 OREB, 4 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-6 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 28 MIN
Finney-Smith struggled offensively, shooting just 1-of-6 from the field and missing all three of his three-point attempts. However, he made up for it with strong rebounding (eight boards, including four offensive) and defensive activity, recording two steals and a block. His ability to contribute in other areas helped mitigate his poor shooting night.
Dalton Knecht: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 10 MIN
Knecht had a quiet night, scoring just five points in 10 minutes of action. He shot 2-of-5 from the field and 1-of-4 from three but didn’t contribute much else in terms of playmaking or defense. His limited role didn’t allow him to make a major impact, but he provided a brief scoring boost off the bench.
Gabe Vincent: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-6 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 16 MIN
It was a rough game for Vincent, who managed just two points on 1-of-6 shooting and missed all four of his three-point attempts. He also had a turnover and contributed little in terms of playmaking or rebounding. His poor shooting and lack of overall impact made this a forgettable performance.
Jordan Goodwin: N/A
Stats: 1 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2, 6 MIN
Goodwin saw just six minutes of action and didn’t have much of a role, finishing with one point, two rebounds, and a block. His lone field-goal attempt was a miss, and he wasn’t on the floor long enough to make a real impact.
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