Dončić Shines for Lakers in Dallas Return, Drops 45 Points in Win

• Luka Dončić was traded by Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers in February for Anthony Davis in one of the most shocking deals in NBA history.
• Dončić returned to Dallas on April 9 for the first time, and in an emotional night, poured in 45 points in a 112-97 win for the Lakers.
• Dallas fans continue to chant “Fire Nico”, who is Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, the architect of the trade.

The NBA world is still talking about the trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Anthony Davis to Dallas. It shocked everyone on February 2, and it’s still one of the most stunning deals to happen in a long time.

Dončić made his return to Dallas, where he was emotional during a pregame video tribute. But the guard put his feelings aside and lit the Mavericks up for 45 points in a Lakers’ win on April 9.

Dončić Emotional During Video Tribute, Then Gets to Work

The Mavericks paid tribute to Dončićduring the lineup announcements, and it got to the Slovenian superstar, who wiped away tears and put his head in a towel.

But it didn’t take long for Dončić to channel his emotions positively as he had 14 points in the first quarter, and 31 points by halftime. He slowed down a little in the second half, but still wound up with a huge stat line.

Dončić had 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a 112-97 win for the Lakers. To their credit, the Mavericks didn’t make it easy for their former teammate as they cut the deficit to three points with just over six minutes left.

But LeBron James helped Dončić out by scoring 19 of his 27 points after halftime, and he likely gave Dončić some advice. The situations aren’t the same, but James has returned to former teams in Cleveland and Miami, so he knows a little of what Dončić was going through.

Meanwhile, it was a tough night for Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who stood in a tunnel. The Dallas crowd chanted “Fire Nico” throughout the game, as they have been doing since the trade happened. Harrison hasn’t spoken to the media since the day after the trade. But at this point, there isn’t much he could say to make the Dallas fan base happy.

What Does This Mean for the Lakers and the Mavericks?

For the Lakers, it means their NBA championship odds should be considered. They’re not a great defensive team, but the Lakers are better than many expected after trading Davis to Dallas.

With Dončić and James, they have two of the smartest basketball players ever. Both have also proven they can raise their game in the playoffs. Austin Reaves has also emerged as one of the best third options in the league, and is a longshot in the NBA Most Improved Player odds. As long as their role players hit the defensive end hard and hit open shots, the Lakers can beat anyone.

On the other hand, the Mavericks have a long way to go. They’re also missing Kyrie Irving, who is out with a long-term knee injury. Davis was injured in his first game as a Maverick, and had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in his first game against the team he won a title with in 2020. Those two are also getting up there in age, and the Mavericks didn’t exactly optimize their return for Dončić.

But regardless of what happens, Dallas fans will never forgive Harrison, who might be out of a job sooner than later.