The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-99 in Luka Dončić’s first game against his former team. Dončić recorded a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists—nearly reaching a double-double by halftime.
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The Lakers have been on a roll, suffering only two losses in February. LeBron James complemented Dončić’s performance with 27 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 16 of those points in the fourth quarter.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith speculated that Dončić’s arrival in Los Angeles could extend James’ NBA career.
“He may have actually extended and prolonged the career of LeBron James,” Smith said on First Take. “Everybody was talking about, at the beginning of the season, two years left or whatever. We don’t know what LeBron James might do now. Especially if they’re winning—and with Luka, he might not go anywhere.”
James also praised Dončić’s composure in his first game against Dallas.
“A lot of emotion goes in when you give so much to a franchise, and you sacrifice for a franchise, and you have that type of love and respect for a franchise, went to the Finals, all that stuff,” James said. “He’s grown from an 18, 19-year-old kid to now a 25-year-old man, family. You grow into a family with a franchise. When you move on, or they move on from you, it’s very emotional. It’s very taxing.”
The Lakers will kick off a six-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow on NBA TV.
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