Mavericks vs. Lakers 99-107: Lebron shines, Luka seals win against former team

Luka Doncic secured a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-99 on Tuesday in a highly anticipated post-trade showdown at Crypto.com Arena.

Facing his former team for the first time since the blockbuster deadline deal, Doncic finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks.

LeBron James contributed 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 20 points to help Los Angeles improve to 3-2 since Doncic made his Lakers debut.

The game had no shortage of emotion, with Doncic exchanging words with the Mavericks' bench after a first-quarter three-pointer. He made an immediate impact, tallying nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the opening frame.

By halftime, the Slovenian star had compiled 12 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, marking the first time since play-by-play tracking began in 1996 that a player hit those numbers along with two steals and two blocks in a single half.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 35 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Klay Thompson added 22 points. However, Dallas struggled with turnovers, committing 18 that led to 30 Lakers points.

Despite a tightly contested fourth quarter, the Lakers pulled away late, sealing the win with a James dunk off a Doncic assist.

The final buzzer saw Doncic embrace several former teammates, capping off an emotional night as he continues to find his place in Los Angeles.