Kyrie Irving Gets Real On First Matchup Against Luka Doncic And The Lakers

Kyrie Irving spoke in detail about the upcoming matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic's first game against his old franchise.

4 Min Read

Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks will have arguably their most important matchup of the season so far on Saturday as they travel to the Crypto.com Arena for a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers. While Mavs vs. Lakers has been appointment viewing over the last few years, this year’s matchup is even more significant as it’ll be Luka Doncic’s first game against the Mavericks in his career.

It’ll be an emotional matchup for both teams. In his post-game press conference, Kyrie Irving was asked to discuss the upcoming marquee matchup.

“A high-level basketball game? A lot of good players on the floor at once. Outside just the obvious of us being in LA and being a former team of Luka’s, obviously the narrative is already written. I don’t know what else I can add to that. I’m pretty much focused on telling my guys to focus on the high-level game that we gotta win.” 

“I’d love to get into the emotions after the game with you, but before the game, it’s just about having fun and making sure that we lock in and have a deep focus. They’re gonna come in and be ready to play against us.” 

“Luka will obviously have a lot of confidence that game, and he played well last game, so he’s feeling good. We’ve just got to be aware of it.”

The Mavericks vs. Lakers matchup is going to be fascinating. Both teams are coming in from the opposite end of the momentum spectrum. The Lakers are flying high after a big win over the Denver Nuggets, while the Mavericks are coming off a 102-126 loss to the Golden State Warriors tonight.

The Lakers’ win over Denver saw Luka Doncic break out of his early slump with the franchise, scoring 32 points (10-22 FG), grabbing 10 rebounds, providing seven assists, and grabbing four steals. 

Given that this was an important rivalry matchup for the Lakers, they’ll be encouraged by Luka’s form heading into a must-win game against the Mavericks.

Kyrie has had to carry a massive offensive load with the injuries on the Mavs roster and the lack of high-level perimeter creators since Doncic left. As a result, Kyrie was restricted to just 17 points (7-18 FG) on the night. 

Hopefully, he can find his best self against the Lakers as the Mavericks need every bit of production they can get from him.

The Mavericks are riddled with injuries at the moment, so the Lakers have a strong opportunity to pick up a glamorous win at home. While Doncic’s first game back in Dallas will carry more vitriol to it in April, it’ll be fun to see how this first matchup plays out over the weekend.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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