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Luka Doncic’s homecoming to Dallas was charged with emotion long before the first whistle. Greeted by a standing ovation and a tribute video that brought him to tears, the former Mavericks superstar responded the only way he knows how—by putting on a show.

Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive 112-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, matching his season high with 45 points. He added eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. “Happy and angry,” Doncic said postgame. “It was nice to see familiar faces, but I was tired. I didn’t sleep much—I was too excited.”

The win secured a top-six playoff spot for the Lakers, now 49-31 and safely above the play-in threshold. LeBron James contributed 27 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. The moment was also historic—James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second-most regular-season games played in NBA history (1,561). Only Robert Parish has more.

Doncic’s performance was his third 45-point game this season and his first with Los Angeles. He previously set the Mavericks’ single-game scoring record with 73 points in January 2024. Wednesday marked his first return to American Airlines Center since the trade that sent him to L.A. and brought Anthony Davis to Dallas.

The trade, announced mid-season, shocked the league. Mavericks fans, still reeling, chanted “Fire Nico” throughout the night—a direct rebuke of GM Nico Harrison. Their frustration has only grown as Dallas, now 38-42, is guaranteed a losing record just a year after reaching the NBA Finals.

Head coach JJ Redick praised Doncic’s resilience: “The tribute video, the emotion—he was teary-eyed as we walked to the tip. And then he does that. It’s superhuman.”

At halftime, Doncic had already poured in 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, lifting the Lakers to a 60-57 lead. By night’s end, he fell just five points short of John Williamson’s all-time record (50) for points scored in a player’s first game against his former team.

After the final buzzer, Doncic embraced old teammates and applauded the crowd. The affection was mutual—cheers filled the arena once more.

For the Lakers, momentum is building. For the Mavericks, reflection looms. But on this night, the story was singular: a prodigal son returned, and he reminded everyone in Dallas exactly who he still is.