Dončić Returns to Dallas to Lead Lakers into the Playoffs
Slovenian star Luka Dončić returned to Dallas, the team he recently left, and dropped 45 points on his former side, the Mavericks, leading his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to a 112–97 win—and into the NBA Playoffs.
Dončić, who made a shocking move to the Lakers in early February, received a hero’s welcome from the Mavericks’ crowd of 20,841 fans. A tribute video was played in the arena before the game, just before Dončić was introduced. Many fans wore shirts with the phrase “Thank you for everything” written in his native Slovenian, honoring the 26-year-old.
Visibly moved by the reception, Dončić teared up during the tribute and looked deeply emotional, as fellow star LeBron James consoled him moments before tip-off.
But after the emotional pregame ceremony, Dončić quickly found his rhythm and reminded Mavericks fans of the talent their team let go. He scored 14 points in the first quarter alone and added 17 more in the second to help the Lakers take a 60–57 lead into halftime.
LeBron James contributed 27 points and 7 rebounds, helping secure the Lakers’ playoff spot by reinforcing their hold on the third seed in the Western Conference (49 wins, 31 losses), with two regular-season games remaining.
Dončić received one final standing ovation from the Dallas fans when he exited the game with 1:35 left on the clock, after sinking another deep three-pointer—followed by a celebration from his new Lakers teammates.
The applause soon turned into chants targeting Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison (“Fire Nico”), who had supported the blockbuster trade deal between Dallas and the Lakers.
Dončić later admitted he struggled to keep his composure during the pregame ceremonies, saying: “I don’t know how I did it, because when I was watching that video, I told myself: I can’t play this game.” He added: “But all my teammates supported and backed me. There were so many emotions I can’t even describe. My eyes welled up. I came here as a kid, at 18, and they made me feel like I was home. Amazing memories.”
He concluded: “I love these fans, I love this city—but it’s time to move on.”
Denver and Clippers Also Close In on Playoffs
The Lakers became the third team to clinch a playoff berth from the Western Conference, after the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, both the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers took big steps toward joining them.
Denver bounced back from four consecutive losses with a 124–116 win over the Sacramento Kings, led by a triple-double from Serbian big man Nikola Jokić (20 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists), in their first game since the surprise sacking of head coach Mike Malone on Tuesday.
The Clippers, for their part, extended their winning streak to six games with a 134–117 victory over the Houston Rockets, powered by James Harden’s 35-point performance.
Denver climbed to fourth place (48–32), tied with the fifth-seeded Clippers and just ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies (47–32). Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors dropped to seventh after a surprising 111–114 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs—sealed by a deep, buzzer-beating three-pointer from Harrison Barnes.
The Warriors, who had led by 12 points early in the fourth quarter, now find themselves in a tough spot in the race for direct playoff qualification, facing stiff competition from the Grizzlies (47–32) and the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (46–33).
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