In a return to Dallas, Luka Doncic bags 45 points as the Lakers beat the Mavericks to clinch a playoff spot.
Luka Doncic made a triumphant return to Dallas, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-97 victory over his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
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The game, which marked Doncic’s first matchup against the Mavericks since his blockbuster trade to the Lakers earlier in the season, was a defining moment for the Slovenian superstar.
Luka Doncic scores 45 points in return to Dallas
His sensational 45-point performance not only secured a playoff berth for the Lakers in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
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Doncic was nothing short of spectacular, finishing the night with 45 points—his highest scoring output as a Laker—alongside 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 three-pointers, and 4 steals.
The matchup carried heavy emotional weight for Doncic, who spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Mavericks before being traded to the Lakers in a stunning three-team deal on February 2, 2025, that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Luka had an INCREDIBLE performance in his return to Dallas:
✨ 45 PTS (most w/ Lakers)
✨ 8 REB
✨ 6 AST
✨ 7 3PM
✨ 4 STL
The @Lakers clinch a spot in the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google! pic.twitter.com/joBwFu6kz6— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2025
This game was the second meeting between the two teams since the trade.
The Lakers previously outlasted the Mavericks 107-99 on February 26, where Doncic recorded a triple-double 19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists.
