Luka Doncic Returns to Dallas, Leads Lakers to Stunning Comeback Over Mavericks
Luka Doncic walked back into American Airlines Center like he never left-and then reminded everyone exactly why his departure still stings in Dallas. In his second trip back to face the Mavericks since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Los Angeles, Doncic put on a show worthy of any stage, finishing with 33 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds to power the Lakers to a 116-110 win.
This wasn’t just another game on the schedule. It was a marquee matchup during the NBA’s “Rivalry Week,” and while the term “rivalry” might be a stretch given recent history, the energy in the building said otherwise. The Mavericks faithful braved icy conditions to see their former franchise star, and Doncic delivered a performance that was as electric as it was efficient.
The Comeback King
The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, and it looked like Dallas was about to ride a third-quarter surge to their fifth straight win. But Doncic had other plans. After a 16-0 Mavericks run put Los Angeles on its heels, it was Doncic who steadied the ship, scoring key buckets to halt the bleeding and reignite the Lakers offense.
And when it mattered most, he took over. With the game hanging in the balance in the final minutes, Doncic orchestrated a closing stretch that flipped the script completely.
A pair of clutch threes from Rui Hachimura gave the Lakers a 108-106 lead with two minutes to play, and the Mavericks never found a response. A Doncic layup and a drawn charge in the final minute sealed the deal, capping a 27-6 run that stunned the home crowd.
Doncic is now a perfect 4-0 against the Mavericks since the trade that sent Max Christie and Anthony Davis to Dallas last February. And while there was no tribute video this time around, the performance itself was a tribute to what he meant-and still means-to the city.
Studs and Duds: Breaking Down the Key Performers
⭐ STUD: Luka Doncic
Let’s not overthink it-Doncic was the best player on the floor from the jump. He came out firing with 11 points in the first quarter and had already tallied 17 points, six boards, and seven assists by halftime. His command of the Lakers offense was surgical, using his gravity to collapse the Mavericks defense and open up clean looks for shooters.
Even when the Lakers offense sputtered in the third quarter, Doncic was the one who stepped in to stop the bleeding. His ability to read the floor and make the right play-whether it was a step-back three or a cross-court dime-was the difference between a blowout loss and a comeback win.
❌ DUD: Mavs Perimeter Defense
The Mavericks came into the night as one of the league’s best at limiting made threes, but you wouldn’t have known it by watching this one. The Lakers, who typically rank near the bottom of the league in both makes and percentage from beyond the arc, lit up Dallas for 14 threes at a 41% clip.
That’s not just a hot night-it’s a defensive breakdown. Whether it was slow rotations, missed closeouts, or simply underestimating the Lakers’ shooters, the Mavs gave up too many clean looks and paid the price. When you’re up double digits and the opponent starts raining threes, that’s a momentum killer.
The Third Quarter That Almost Changed Everything
To their credit, the Mavericks didn’t fold early. In fact, they looked like they were about to run away with it in the third quarter.
Rookie phenom Cooper Flagg flashed the kind of upside that has Dallas fans excited about the future, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He was more assertive in the second half, hunting his shot while still making high-IQ reads to get teammates involved.
Dallas used a 16-0 run to flip the game and take control, capped by an and-one drive from Brandon Williams and a heads-up putback by P.J. Washington. By the time the third quarter ended, the Mavericks had outscored the Lakers 35-14 and held an 87-79 lead.
But the fourth quarter was a different story.
❌ DUD: Fourth-Quarter Collapse
If the third quarter was a glimpse of what this young Mavericks team could be, the fourth was a reminder of how far they still have to go. Dallas was outscored 37-23 in the final period, and their offense dried up at the worst possible time.
The Lakers, led by Doncic’s steady hand, ripped off a 27-6 run to close the game. The Mavericks, meanwhile, looked out of sorts-rushed possessions, missed assignments, and a general lack of composure down the stretch. It was a meltdown that erased what could’ve been a signature win in front of a charged-up home crowd.
More Bright Spots for Dallas
⭐ STUD: Brandon Williams & Max Christie
Brandon Williams gave Dallas a much-needed spark off the bench, scoring 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting. His slashing and shot creation helped jumpstart the offense in the second half, though he cooled off late when the Mavericks needed him most.
Max Christie, meanwhile, led the team with 24 points and knocked down four triples against his former squad. While he didn’t share the same emotional weight as Doncic heading into the matchup, he certainly played like he had something to prove.
Christie continues to show growth as a two-way contributor, and on a night when the Mavericks needed every bucket, he delivered. But the question remains: who steps up when the game tightens and the pressure mounts?
❌ DUD: Missed Opportunity
This one will sting for a while. A win would’ve given the Mavericks their longest win streak since the trade that sent Doncic west. Instead, the streak ends at four, and the team is left wondering what could’ve been.
To make matters more frustrating, the Mavs are still without Anthony Davis-the centerpiece of the trade-who remains sidelined with a hand injury. While Christie has emerged as a valuable piece, the full return on that blockbuster deal remains incomplete.
Now the Mavericks will try to regroup quickly, with a tough back-to-back looming in Milwaukee against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. With the trade deadline approaching on February 5, Dallas will need to find answers fast if they want to stay in the mix in a crowded Western Conference.
Bottom Line: Luka Doncic returned to Dallas and reminded everyone why he’s still one of the most dangerous closers in the game. The Mavericks showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t finish the job. In a game full of emotion, momentum swings, and playoff-like intensity, it was the former face of the franchise who had the final word.