DALLAS — Luka Doncic’s 45-point performance in the Lakers’ win over the Dallas Mavericks received a momentous amount of attention Wednesday – and understandably so.
It was Doncic’s first time back in Dallas since the Mavericks shockingly traded him to the Lakers in early February. And it was Doncic’s first time playing at American Airlines Center since Dec. 25 before he was sidelined for more than six weeks because of a strained left calf – a period including him being traded to the Lakers.
Tears were shed, not only from the Mavericks/Doncic fans who grew attached to the 26-year-old Slovenian star guard, hoping he’d follow in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki as a franchise icon who’d spend his entire career with the Mavericks.
But also from Doncic himself, still grappling with the wide-ranging emotional aftermath of a trade he didn’t ask for, sending him away from his first NBA home after six-plus seasons with the Mavericks to Los Angeles.
But the Lakers were with Doncic every step of the way Wednesday night.
When he fought back tears while watching the pregame tribute video the Mavericks played during the Lakers’ starting lineup introductions. During Doncic’s 31-point first half, which came despite Doncic questioning how he’d play the game after watching the video that highlighted his best moments with the Mavericks. When the Mavericks started sending more defenders toward Doncic to slow down his scoring explosion. When Doncic walked off the floor to a standing ovation and “Lu-ka! Lu-ka” chants that filled American Airlines Center, with his Lakers teammates encouraging the fans’ outpouring of affection.
“That was our only concern, was for us to support him and be there for him in whatever fashion or whatever way we could be throughout the whole entire game,” said LeBron James, who gave Doncic one of the biggest hugs of the night before he left the game. “So that was our only motive, our only thought process. Everything was to make sure that we were there for him in any way, shape or form.”
So as Doncic walked off the floor after the Lakers’ victory, he was finally able to exhale, feeling a sense of relief to put Wednesday behind him after the emotional buildup that went into the day.
“I love these fans,” Doncic said on ESPN’s postgame broadcast. “I love this city. But it’s time to move on.”
For Doncic and the Lakers, moving on means putting their full attention back on accomplishing their one final goal before the regular season ends: clinching the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Lakers’ victory over the Mavericks not only provided Doncic with a little more closure, but it also qualified the Lakers for the playoffs, ensuring them that they won’t have to compete in the Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs. It marked the first time since the 2019-20 season, when the Lakers won the NBA championship, that they’ve clinched a playoff spot without having to go through the Tournament for teams seeded 7 to 10. The Golden State Warriors’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs later on Wednesday night meant the Lakers will finish the season between seeds Nos. 3-5.
“It’s very important to get that week off,” James said. “Being a part of the play-in the last couple of years, just anything could happen. So for us to know that we’re in the top six, I mean in the format that it is right now, anytime you can get some rest … [expletive], I speak for myself – anytime I get a week off from not playing ball, I’ll take it. I’ll take it.”
But as coach JJ Redick made clear, the Lakers want more.
They need just one more victory between their last two games – their final regular-season home game against the No. 2-seed Houston Rockets on Friday and Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Trail Blazers in Portland – to clinch the No. 3 seed and a 50-win regular season.
The Lakers haven’t accomplished either in a non-shortened, 82-game regular season since 2010-11, when they were the defending NBA champions.
They last won at a 50-game pace or better in 2019-20, a season that was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing the regular season at No. 1 in the West with a 52-19 record, and 2011-12, the 66-game lockout-shortened season in which they finished No. 3 in the West with a 41-25 record.
“It’s an accomplishment – truthfully, it is,” Redick said. “If you look at the Western Conference this year, it’s an accomplishment to be in the playoffs. We want the third seed. And we have two more cracks to guarantee that spot. For me as a coach, I don’t know. I’m thinking about the third seed to be honest with you. So it’s a cool moment to share when we found out, and with the staff, but we want more.”
ROCKETS AT LAKERS
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM