Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was supposed to be about scoring again. This time, it was about stops.
The Lakers erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Mavericks 116-110, closing the game on a 29-8 run and leaning on Doncic’s defense in the process, writes ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Yes, defense. Against his former team. In their building.
Dallas tried to hunt him late. It did not work.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick said Doncic recorded six straight defensive stops on possessions where the Mavericks targeted him, then capped it with a game-sealing charge drawn on Naji Marshall with under a minute to go.
One play earlier, Doncic had sliced through the defense for a layup that pushed the lead to eight.
He finished with 33 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, responding a night after Redick challenged him to trust teammates and move the ball more.
Doncic acknowledged the message. Fifteen shots. More sharing. Better flow.
LeBron James delivered 11 of his 17 points in the fourth. Rui Hachimura hit a key four-point play and later buried a three to give the Lakers the lead. Marcus Smart added seven in the final period while playing through a painful finger issue he said briefly popped out.
Doncic called Dallas a special place and thanked fans who packed the arena despite icy conditions. There was no emotional tear-fest this time. Just a businesslike win.
The Lakers have now won three of their last four, with Austin Reaves nearing a return. Momentum is building again. The West is watching.
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