Luka Doncic was in tears in his emotionally charged, highly-anticipated return to Dallas.
And the LA Lakers superstar let it all out on the court in a dominant 45-point explosion against his old team.
ESPN on Kayo Sports brings you live weekly NBA coverage and the best of the NBA Playoffs including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer >
Ahead of the Lakers’ 112-97 win at American Airlines Center on Thursday (all times AEDT), Doncic watched Dallas’ tribute video to him with tears in his eyes during player introductions in touching scenes.
It was Doncic’s first time returning to Dallas since February’s shock trade that sent him to LA in exchange for a package centred around Anthony Davis.
Doncic, 26, wiped away tears as he embraced with teammates after the tribute including hugging LeBron James, while Mavericks fans passionately welcomed back their former superstar.
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who travelled to LA to watch Doncic’s first game in purple and gold, was shown in the stands.
Doncic quickly let his play on court do the talking, scoring 31 of his 45 points in the first half along while being cheered by his former fan base.
“He revealed those emotions, he let it out. This 30-point first half is a part of that healing process,” NBA legend Richard Jefferson said on ESPN at half-time.
It marked the Slovenian superstar’s 46th career 40-point game, shooting 16-of-28 from the field with eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and seven 3-pointers in a trademark performance.
Doncic said post-match he felt “so may emotions” in making his return to Dallas and even questioned during the pre-game tribute if he’d be able to play.
“I came here as a young kid at 18 (years old). I didn’t know what to expect from the NBA and they made me feel like home. Just a lot of great, great memories,” he told ESPN.
“I don’t know how I did it. Because when I watched that (tribute) video I was like: ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game’.
“But all my teammates had my back and were really supportive, so I really appreciated that.”
Meanwhile Mavs fans, just like they did in the games that followed the trade, continued to sledge Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, the man responsible for trading Doncic to the Lakers, as “fire Nico” chants sounded around American Airlines Arena.
The Mavericks opened the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run to take the lead before LA responded in a major way through James.
Doncic iced the win for LA with a step-back three followed by a floater inside the final two minutes, before receiving more cheers from Mavericks fans in a standing ovation during the timeout.
“Plenty of Luka love here at the America Airlines Arena … cheers continued through the timeout and “Luka” chants,” ESPN commentator Mike Breen said.
The win saw the 49-31 Lakers move a step closer to locking down the West’s third seed, while the 10th-seeded Mavericks, without Kyrie Irving (ACL) for the remainder of the campaign, fell to 38-42.
It was Doncic’s second time facing his former side, with the Lakers defeating Dallas 107-99 in LA on February 26.
It meanwhile marked Davis’ first game against LA since the trade after he being sidelined for six weeks with an adductor injury.
Discussion about this post