An emotional Luka Doncic powered the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, securing a seeded playoff spot with an impressive 45-point performance.
The game marked Doncic’s first return to Dallas since his stunning mid-season trade to the Lakers in February — a move that shocked the NBA.
In recognition of his six and a half memorable seasons in Texas, fans at the American Airlines Center received T-shirts reading “Hvala za vse,” Slovenian for “Thank you for everything.”
Doncic was visibly moved as the Mavericks played a heartfelt pre-game video tribute, prompting tears from the 26-year-old star.
The crowd greeted his early touches with resounding cheers, but sentiment gave way to fierce competition as Doncic quickly took control of the game, scoring 13 points in the first quarter and 31 by halftime.
He ended the night with eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in 38 minutes on the court.
“Everybody saw me, the way I reacted to the video,” Doncic told the media. “All these fans, I really appreciate it, man. All the team-mates I had, everybody had my back. I’m just happy. I love these fans, I love this city, but it’s time to move on.”
LeBron James added 27 points for the Lakers, including 13 in the final quarter.
The win guarantees Los Angeles a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With two games remaining, they still have a chance to secure the third seed.
