The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up to host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night in what promises to be an emotionally-charged matchup.
It will mark the first meeting between the two teams since their blockbuster trade earlier this month, which saw Dallas send Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to LA in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.
Doncic, who initially struggled to find his rhythm in his first three games with the Lakers, delivered a statement performance on Saturday night.
The five-time All-Star led LA to a commanding road victory over the Denver Nuggets, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals-his best game in Purple and Gold so far.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77). Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images With Tuesday’s game looming, a new video of Doncic at practice surfaced on X, showing the Slovenian star in high spirits during shootaround, knocking down three-pointers and smiling alongside teammates. ”
Luka Doncic is in high spirits for his first game vs The Mavericks,” Jordan Richard of Swish Cultures captioned his post on X.
Luka Doncic is in high spirits for his first game vs The Mavericks pic.twitter.com/YSC942bCo2 — Jordan Richard (@JordanRichardSC) February 24, 2025
Now set to face the franchise that drafted him third overall in 2018, Doncic will aim to build on his strong showing against Denver and further cement his role as the Lakers’ new offensive centerpiece.
Despite a challenging year that included a calf injury and the midseason trade, the reigning NBA scoring champion is still averaging an impressive 26.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
The Lakers (34-21) enter the contest as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won eight of their last 10 games, including three straight victories.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks (31-26) sit eighth in the Western Conference, just outside an automatic playoff spot, making this a crucial matchup for both sides.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET, with the game set to air nationally on TNT.
