Los Angeles Lakers celebrity guard Luka Doncic didn’t let the emotional night time on Wednesday forestall him from placing on a present in his former dwelling. Over two months since his gorgeous commerce from the Dallas Mavericks to LA, Doncic performed at American Airways Heart for the primary time as a customer.
Whereas he was in a unique jersey this time round than what Mavericks followers had been used to seeing him don throughout his stint in Dallas, he reminded everybody that he was nonetheless the identical terrifying weapon on the courtroom with an excellent offensive night time to steer the Lakers to a 112-97 victory.
The 26-year-old Doncic already surpassed his season scoring common with simply two quarters, as he torched the Mavs for 31 factors within the first half, flattening 11 of his 16 makes an attempt from the sphere.
He discovered his contact early from behind the arc, the place he went 6-for-8 earlier than halftime. When it was all mentioned and completed on the courtroom, five-time NBA All-Star had racked up a complete of 45 factors on 16-for-28 capturing with eight rebounds, six assists and 4 steals in 38 minutes.
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Following Los Angeles’ win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who additionally as soon as performed for the Mavericks, joked about being upset by Doncic falling wanting scoring 50 factors (h/t Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints).
The sport was a good one till the center of the fourth quarter when the Lakers broke away. The rating was tied at 87-87 with just a little underneath eight minutes left in regulation when four-time NBA Most Beneficial Participant LeBron James put Los Angeles in entrance for good with a three-point play. James was instrumental too in LA’s win, as he completed with 27 factors, together with 13 within the fourth quarter.
The Lakers do not have a shot at both of the highest two spots within the Western Convention standings however they’re nonetheless in charge of their probabilities to lock up the No. 3 seed. They’re 49-31 with two video games left to play. Los Angeles will play the Houston Rockets for the Lakers’ dwelling finale within the common season on Friday earlier than dealing with the Portland Path Blazers on Sunday on the street.