Doncic Scores 45, Lakers Beat Mavericks 112–97 to Advance

10 Apr at 10:40 am

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Doncic Scores 45, Lakers Beat Mavericks 112–97 to Advance/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Luka Doncic scored 45 points in his Dallas homecoming to lead the Lakers past the Mavericks 112–97, clinching a playoff berth. LeBron James added 27 points as the Lakers secured their third-place standing in the West. The Mavericks now face a losing season but remain in the play-in hunt.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) and LeBron James, center, right, hug and celebrate late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Doncic Drops 45, Lakers Clinch Playoff Spot: Quick Looks

Luka Doncic scored 45 points in first game back in Dallas since blockbuster trade.
LeBron James finished with 27 points, 13 of them in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers secured a 112-97 win, locking in a Western Conference playoff spot.
Doncic added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the dominant performance.
Anthony Davis, traded to Dallas in the deal, had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 23 points and 8 assists.
Key moment: LeBron’s three-point play broke an 87-87 tie with 8:10 left.
Lakers hold third in the Western Conference after third game in four nights.
Dallas drops to 38-42, ensuring a losing record despite 2024 Finals appearance.
LeBron played his 1,561st regular-season game, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) shoots as Dallas Mavericks’ Naji Marshall (13) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Doncic Scores 45, Lakers Beat Mavericks 112–97 to Advance

Deep Look

In a dramatic and emotionally charged return to Dallas, Luka Doncic lit up his former home court with 45 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. The win not only showcased Doncic’s dominance but also clinched a playoff berth for the Lakers, who continue to solidify their hold on the third seed in the Western Conference.

This was Doncic’s first game back at American Airlines Center since his shock trade to Los Angeles two months ago, a move that stunned the NBA. The five-time All-Star had spent the entirety of his career—five and a half seasons—with Dallas before the sudden move, and he still had two years remaining on his contract at the time of the deal.

Doncic’s performance matched his season-high scoring total, which he previously hit once with Dallas and once earlier this season with the Lakers. He also contributed across the board with eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, playing with a blend of emotion and precision in his homecoming performance.

LeBron James, as always, delivered when it mattered most. He scored 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, leading a strong Lakers finish after they briefly trailed during a Mavericks surge. The pivotal moment came with 8:10 remaining, when LeBron completed a three-point play to break an 87-87 tie, putting the Lakers ahead for good. He followed with a layup just 34 seconds later, halting Dallas’ 15-2 run.

Meanwhile, former Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who went to Dallas as part of the blockbuster trade, posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Though he showed flashes of his usual presence, it wasn’t enough to match the combined firepower of his former teammates.

The Mavericks, now 38-42, have officially locked in a losing season, a stunning turn just a year after reaching the NBA Finals. Still, they remain in contention for the 10th seed and the play-in tournament, keeping postseason hopes alive if only just.

Naji Marshall was the leading scorer for the Mavericks with 23 points and eight assists, stepping up in the absence of consistent offensive production from the rest of the roster.

The game also marked a historic milestone for LeBron James, who played in his 1,561st regular-season game, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second place on the NBA’s all-time list. Only Robert Parish, with 1,611 games, has played more. The appearance was LeBron’s 418th game with the Lakers, adding to 849 with Cleveland and 294 with Miami.

The victory was the Lakers’ third game in four nights, a stretch that included a road split with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the tight schedule, Los Angeles continues to play with the urgency and cohesion of a team with championship aspirations.