The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a hard-fought 107-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, marking Luka Doncic’s first game against the team that shockingly traded him less than a month ago. While the game was a gritty, physical battle, the emotions surrounding the trade were even more intense.
Lakers fans packed Crypto.com Arena to welcome their new star, showering Doncic with love while mocking Mavericks GM Nico Harrison with “Thank you, Nico!” chants throughout the game.
Doncic didn’t disappoint, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, controlling the pace of the game even as he struggled from the field, shooting just 6-17 overall and 1-7 from deep.
One fan perfectly summed up the excitement of having Doncic in purple and gold, writing, “You couldn’t name me a greater Lakers guard.”
Doncic’s ability to control the game, even on an off-shooting night, showcased why Lakers fans already view him as a franchise cornerstone.
Another fan noted how impactful Doncic was on both ends, tweeting, “He was all over the place, putting up numbers, even on defense. Mavericks were finessed.”
Lakers fans also didn’t hold back on Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, with one bluntly stating, “Nico bumass deserves this cooking.”
The controversial Doncic-for-Anthony Davis trade has been widely criticized, and this game only added fuel to the fire. While Harrison was in attendance, he had to watch Doncic control the game and pick apart his former team while Lakers fans mocked him relentlessly.
Another fan emphasized Doncic’s dominance, saying, “Luka’s triple-double against the Mavs shows he’s still a beast, even with a new team—19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, pure fire!”
Doncic may still be adjusting to his new role with the Lakers, but he’s already making a major impact, proving his superstar status remains untouched.
LeBron James, however, stole the show in the fourth quarter. With the game hanging in the balance, James erupted for 16 points in the final period, completely taking over down the stretch.
He finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, shooting an efficient 11-17 from the field and 2-4 from three-point range. His clutch performance left Lakers fans buzzing, with many taking to social media to shut down the narrative that LeBron lacks a killer instinct.
LeBron stole the show in the fourth quarter, with one fan hilariously commenting, “The way LeBron played, it seems like he’s the one traded from Dallas to Los Angeles.”
Another fan pointed out how LeBron outperformed Doncic on a night that was supposed to be about Luka, tweeting, “LeBron really played better than Luka in Luka’s revenge game.”
The 40-year-old superstar once again proved why he’s still one of the best in the league, delivering when it mattered most.
Finally, one fan took the opportunity to shut down an age-old debate, writing, “Can we please end this narrative about LeBron not having ‘that killer instinct’? It’s laughable.”
Austin Reaves was also instrumental in the Lakers’ win, contributing 20 points and five assists, while Rui Hachimura added 15 points.
On the Mavericks’ side, Kyrie Irving carried the offensive load, scoring 35 points on 12-27 shooting, including 5-11 from three. Klay Thompson caught fire in the fourth quarter, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lakers’ late push.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 35-21, climbing to 4th in the West, while the Mavericks dropped to 31-28, sitting at 9th in the standings.
While Doncic’s revenge game didn’t feature a scoring explosion, his triple-double and overall impact made it clear that the Mavericks made a massive mistake trading away their franchise star.
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