The Los Angeles Lakers needed composure, shot-making and star power to close out their final NBA Emirates Cup group-play game. They got all of it — and then some — from their newest dynamic duo on the perimeter.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been one of the league’s most electric backcourt duos all season, but Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks may have been their clearest statement yet. Two players who arrived in Los Angeles under very different circumstances now look like the engines of a team trying to climb toward the top of the Western Conference.
Doncic and Reaves Continue to Dominate
GettyLuka Doncic #77 slaps hands with Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Doncic offensive genius has been undeniable. Since arriving in purple and gold, he has delivered MVP-level production, and this season he is averaging 35.2 points, 9.2 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game. His command of pace, manipulation of defenses and ability to score from anywhere make him an impossible cover.
Reaves has risen right beside him. No longer just an energy guard or a connective passer, he’s evolved into a polished isolation scorer. He lives in the in-between spaces — flipping in floaters, absorbing contact, forcing rotations to bend. His 27.9 points and 7.0 assists per game are proof that his leap is real.
Both stars delivered again against Dallas: Doncic finished with 35. Reaves had 38. And in doing so, they made Lakers history.
It marked the first time in franchise history that a pair of Lakers guards each scored 35+ points on at least 75 percent true shooting in the same game. A franchise built on legends — Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West — had never seen a guard tandem do it until now.
That’s how special this night was.
Lakers Handle Emotional Matchup With Mavericks
This wasn’t a normal regular-season contest. The Lakers had already clinched West Group B, but the emotions ran deeper. It was Anthony Davis’ first time facing his former franchise in Los Angeles since last season’s blockbuster trade that reshaped both organizations.
Dallas, shorthanded and inconsistent, still fought the entire way. The Mavericks might be struggling offensively, but defensively they remain disciplined and physical. They forced the Lakers to work for every possession.
But Doncic and Reaves kept answering. Reaves punished every mismatch, knocked down every open look Los Angeles created for him, and attacked the rim with purpose. Doncic took longer to heat up, but once he locked in, he controlled the game’s final stretch.
Reaves finished with 38 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting a blistering 12-of-15. Doncic added 35 points and 11 assists, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line.
Deandre Ayton also returned from injury, giving the Lakers steady inside scoring with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
By the final buzzer, the Lakers had secured a 129–119 win and an undefeated run through group play.
Lakers Positioned for a Strong Run
This version of the Lakers — confident, pace-controlled, and fueled by two elite ball-handlers — looks dangerous. When Reaves and Doncic are in rhythm, they don’t just complement each other. They multiply each other’s impact.
The Lakers now turn their attention to what’s next: A home matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, followed by a quick turnaround against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
If Los Angeles continues to get this level of production from its backcourt, the upcoming stretch could be the beginning of something bigger. Doncic and Reaves aren’t just carrying games — they’re shaping the identity of a team with real ambitions.
And if nights like this keep happening, the rest of the West will have no choice but to take notice.
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