Austin Reaves dropped 38 points and Luka Doncic followed with 35 points and 11 assists as the Lakers took down the Dallas Mavericks 129 to 119 in their latest matchup, ESPN reports. The win capped off a strong stretch for Los Angeles, but it also brought another layer of meaning for Doncic, who continues to face his former team with a mix of competitiveness and familiarity.
Anthony Davis returned to action with 13 points and five rebounds while playing limited minutes. Reaves and Doncic then pushed the Lakers through a sharp second half, combining for 36 after halftime and powering a sixth straight victory. Their late-game surge closed out a night where the Lakers also completed a perfect run through NBA Cup group play.
Dallas kept the score tight behind P.J. Washington’s 22 points and Ryan Nembhard’s 17. Rookie Cooper Flagg added another impressive all-around performance with 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Their energy helped the Mavericks move ahead with under eight minutes left, but the Lakers responded with a decisive 13 to 1 run that shut the door. Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Doncic delivered the key baskets that swung the momentum back toward Los Angeles.
How Dallas Tried to Slow Doncic
From the opening possession, Dallas committed to blitzing Doncic high on the floor, per Dallas Hoops Journal. He saw the pressure coming.
“Yeah, obviously I accept it and kind of knew it was coming,” Doncic said. “I always say if I get blitzed, I did my job. You play four-on-three. That’s the best way you can play.”
He used those traps to create open threes for Reaves, Ayton and the shooters spaced around him. And even when Dallas briefly grabbed control in the fourth quarter, Doncic countered with timely drives and passes that forced the Mavericks defense to scramble again.
He also pointed to the team’s shooting and ball movement as the difference after halftime.
“I think in the last two games, we made our shots,” Doncic said. “When we share the ball and play how we need to, we get a lot of good shots. The first half was so-so, but there was a major difference in the second half.”
Doncic Opens Up About Facing His Former Team
While the Lakers have built momentum behind their balance and shotmaking, the matchup itself still carries emotional weight for Doncic. He didn’t hide it when asked what these games feel like more than a year after the blockbuster trade that sent him to Los Angeles.
“I would say it’s a little bit easier now,” Doncic said. “But games against Dallas always have some special meaning to me. I still have a lot of friends there. It’s important, it’s fun, and it’s always special.”
He shared that sentiment after praising Reaves’ surge this season.
“He’s playing like one of the best basketball players in this league,” Doncic said. “The way he scores, the way he makes plays for others… I’m just happy he’s on my team.”
For Doncic, the personal connections in Dallas may never fade. But his comfort in these matchups has grown as Los Angeles continues to take shape around him. And as the Lakers advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals with an undefeated record in group play, he made clear how much the in-season tournament matters to him and to the locker room.
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