Mavericks Suffer Tough Loss to Lakers

Those who braved the icy roads and freezing temperatures in North Texas were treated to an electric ending at American Airlines Center, but it wasn’t the finish Mavericks fans hoped for.

It appeared as if the Mavericks would reward those fans who traveled through the wintry weather with a fifth consecutive victory, but they went cold in the fourth quarter and suffered a 116-110 loss to Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd signaled for a timeout with 1 minute and 40 seconds left in the game after Marcus Smart caught an offensive rebound with little resistance, leading to a putback layup and a three-point lead for the Lakers, who once trailed by as many as 15 points.

Coming out of the quick break, Brandon Williams missed a layup through contact and LeBron James finished a Lakers transition opportunity with another tip-in, cementing what became one of the biggest meltdowns of the season for the Mavericks.

Game Recap

Three Dallas players scored at least 20 points, but Doncic dazzled and flirted with a near triple-double, improving to 4-0 against his old team.

“I thought the group did a great job,” Kidd said. “Luka is one of the best players in the world. He played here. Understanding the situation. I thought the group did a great job competing. We put ourselves in a great position to win a close game.”

Dallas blew a 15-point lead, its largest of the season, at the most inopportune time. The Lakers closed the game on a 27-8 run in the final six minutes of the game, which Kidd credited to several defensive lapses.

“I think defensively, we couldn’t get stops,” Kidd said after the game. “Had some good looks and also had some turnovers that led to them being able to capitalize.”

Player Performances

Doncic and Anthony Davis are the headliners of the five-player trade that sent shockwaves around the NBA nearly a year ago, but Max Christie has proved himself to be a steal for the Mavericks. He led the Mavericks with 24 points and knocked down four 3-pointers.

“Very emotional,” Christie said. “Just because of the circumstances of the game and who we’re playing obviously. It was fun. Obviously, it wasn’t good to get the loss, but we played hard. We battled.”

Naji Marshall, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Saturday, had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds. He swapped jerseys with Doncic following the game.

Cooper Flagg had his best passing game of the season the last time he matched up against Doncic and the Lakers with a career-high 11 assists. On Saturday, he had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Return of Luka Doncic

Doncic returned to American Airlines Center for the second time since he was dealt and while it wasn’t nearly as emotional as his debut as an opponent last April. The newest franchise face of the Lakers was showered with love by his former fanbase with rousing ovations as he was introduced in the starting lineups and throughout the game.

Doncic finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Lakers. Smart and LeBron James added 17 points each.

Conclusion

The Mavericks will have another opportunity to capture that elusive win over Doncic on Feb. 12 in Los Angeles and if doesn’t happen then, they’ll have the series finale back at AAC on April 5.

It should be much warmer in Dallas by then, but the Mavericks will have a quick turnaround in Milwaukee on Sunday night. They were not able to leave Dallas on late Saturday night because of the worsening winter conditions, but they are expected to fly out on Sunday to make the 6 p.m. tip-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the final score of the game between the Mavericks and the Lakers?

A: The final score was 116-110 in favor of the Lakers.

Q: Who led the Mavericks in scoring?

A: Max Christie led the Mavericks with 24 points.

Q: What was the largest lead of the game for the Mavericks?

A: The Mavericks had a 15-point lead at one point in the game.

Q: When will the Mavericks have their next opportunity to play against Luka Doncic and the Lakers?

A: The Mavericks will play against the Lakers again on Feb. 12 in Los Angeles.