Mavs fans show Luka Doncic loyalty as new Laker posts triple-double over Dallas

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Although Mavericks fans need no reminder, Luka Doncic shows again what they’re missing, dropping all-around numbers for the Lakers in their first meeting since the trade

LOS ANGELES, USA – Dallas fans are still in a state of shock over the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers earlier this month and their loyalty to the five-time All Star was on full display on Tuesday, February 25 (Wednesday, February 26, Manila time) as he helped his new team beat the Mavericks, 107-99, in Los Angeles.

Mavs fans have been in open revolt since the Slovenian’s seismic trade and while they needed no reminder of his talent, Doncic showed them exactly what they will be missing, posting a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists.

“I’m a Luka fan,” said Andy Ou, who was wearing Doncic’s old Dallas jersey before the game in downtown LA, the first between the teams since the trade.

“I’m rooting for him, I just don’t have his Lakers jersey yet. I’ll buy one tonight.”

Doncic, 25, led the Mavs to the NBA finals last season so fans were stunned when the Dallas front office sent him to the Lakers in a deal for LA big man Anthony Davis that came out of the blue.

Davis, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, did not play on Tuesday as he is sidelined with an injury but received a warm ovation from the home crowd when he was acknowledged in the arena.

Lifelong Mavericks fan Will Buehring, who was also wearing Doncic’s No. 77 Mavs jersey and who traveled from Dallas for the game, said he had yet to get over the shock of the trade.

“It’s probably the biggest, worst mishap in the history of the league,” he said.

“I really love the Mavericks, I love Luka and LA is an amazing place, so I figured why not make a trip out of it and come watch him play his old team.

“But I still can’t believe it. It’s surreal. What a trade. That was a bad day.”

The contest at Crypto.com arena had the intensity of a playoff game and the sold-out crowd erupted when Doncic bullied his way to the rim early in the opening quarter for his first points of the game.

Doncic and new teammate LeBron James showcased their chemistry throughout and an assist from Doncic to the league’s all-time leading scorer late in the fourth quarter sealed the win.

Doncic was immediately embraced by his former Dallas teammates after the game and said he looked forward to some rest after the intense and highly anticipated matchup.

“I can’t wait to get to sleep,” Doncic said. “I’m exhausted.”

Lakers streak

LeBron James also scored 27 points and secured 12 rebounds, Austin Reaves added 20 points, and Rui Hachimura had 15 as the Lakers improved to 3-2 with Doncic on the court. 

Los Angeles won its third consecutive game and improved to 13-3 since January 21.

Doncic delivered his first triple-double with the Lakers, his fourth of the season and the 81st of his career to only heighten the sentiment of an unpopular trade in Dallas.

Kyrie Irving scored 35 points and Klay Thompson added 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter for the Mavericks, who dropped to 5-6 since January 31. 

Max Christie, who was part of the package from the Lakers for Doncic, added 10 points in his ninth game with Dallas.

Anthony Davis (abdomen), the key component in the trade package from the Lakers, did not play for the ninth time in 10 games since the deal became official. Dallas also was without fellow big men Daniel Gafford (knee) and Dereck Lively II (ankle).

Active in the early going, Doncic was 3-of-7 from the floor with 9 points, 7 rebounds and a technical foul in the first quarter. He had 12 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots by halftime when the Lakers held a 59-51 lead after leading by as many as 16.

The Mavericks got back in the game by closing the first half on a 12-4 run and then held the Lakers to 19 points in the third quarter as Los Angeles went into the fourth with a 78-77 advantage.

Dallas was even at 91-91 with 6:17 remaining before Los Angeles took control. The Lakers turned a 9-2 run into a 105-96 lead with 1:05 left after a Hachimura layup. 

Hachimura scored 5 points in the decisive run.

Doncic finished 6-of-17 from the floor, 1-of-7 from three-point range and had 3 steals with his 2 early blocks. – Rappler.com