Luka Doncic ties season high with 45 points in triumphant return to Dallas

In Luka Doncic’s first game against his former team, he put up a triple-double as he led the Lakers to a win over the Mavericks. In Doncic’s first game back in Dallas since the shocking trade that sent him to Los Angeles, he tied his season high with 45 points in another Lakers win, 112-97.

It was an emotional night for Doncic, who held back tears when Dallas played a tribute video to him before tip-off. For the first half, he was practically unstoppable.

At halftime, Doncic had 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting. He chipped in with three rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Lakers led 60-57.

Doncic added 14 points in the second half to get to 45 points, which he reached twice before this season: once with the Mavericks in December and again with the Lakers in March. He also owns the Mavericks franchise single-game record with 73 points, a feat he accomplished in January 2024.

Doncic came up just short of the record for most points by an NBA player in his first road game against his former team. That record belongs to John Williamson, who totaled 50 points when the Nets visited the Pacers in 1978.

As his night came to a close, Mavs fans sent Doncic off with a round of applause and “fire Nico” chants, reflecting their anger at Dallas general manager Nico Harrison for trading the 26-year-old superstar to LA. He finished the game with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Doncic has now averaged 27.8 points in 27 games with the Lakers, who are in third place in the Western Conference standings. LA officially clinched a spot in the playoffs with the win Wednesday night.

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