Luka Doncic faced his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in what turned out to be a challenging game for him. Despite jokingly downplaying his performance, he finished with 19 points but shot only 6 of 17 from the floor. Nonetheless, he achieved a triple-double with 15 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks, making him the second Laker ever, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to record more than 15 points, 10 assists, and multiple steals and blocks in a game.
The Lakers secured a 107-99 victory, highlighting Doncic’s defensive contributions as the team allowed just 105.8 points per possession while he was on the court. LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points, particularly shining in the fourth quarter where he scored 16 points to help rally the team from a 15-point deficit.
Doncic’s adjustment to the Lakers has been gradual, and he is still finding his place within the team structure. Since his arrival, James has notably scored significantly more in the fourth quarter than Doncic, but this disparity may change as Doncic becomes more comfortable post-injury. Doncic expressed relief after the game, emphasizing the emotional weight of facing the Mavericks and the unique experience of playing alongside James and Austin Reaves, which allows for a less burdened scoring role.
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