{"id":396,"date":"2025-02-27T18:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T18:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/?p=396"},"modified":"2025-02-28T20:49:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T20:49:52","slug":"game-report-dallas-mavericks-vs-los-angeles-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/2025\/02\/27\/game-report-dallas-mavericks-vs-los-angeles-lakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Report: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-1024x297.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-1024x297.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-300x87.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-768x222.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-1536x445.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-2048x593.png 2048w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-1.30.26\u202fPM-600x174.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dallas vs. Don\u010di\u0107! No one thought these words would ever be uttered. But a surprise trade on February 2 saw Luka Don\u010di\u0107, the former Mavericks superstar traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Tuesday\u2019s night game on TNT surely did not disappoint. If there were any sentimental feelings, Don\u010di\u0107 made sure to get rid of them before tip-off as he led the Lakers to a 107-99 victory against his former squad. He posted 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, which marked his first triple-double in a purple and gold uniform. Don\u010di\u0107 joked that he \u201ccouldn\u2019t make nothing today\u201d but his triple-double told another story.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/dims.apnews.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/dims.apnews.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-397\" style=\"width:492px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/dims.apnews.jpg 599w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/dims.apnews-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/dims.apnews-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The seismic trade made basketball lovers across the world circle February 26 on their calendar as it would be the first matchup between the two teams since swapping multiple players. Fans were shocked about this trade but no one more than Luka himself. Don\u010di\u0107 believed he would retire as a Maverick. But concerns about his conditioning and injuries led to the franchise trading him to another team. This trade means that Don\u010di\u0107 will be ineligible to sign a five year, $345 million supermax contract extension. Under league rules, Don\u010di\u0107 will now have to settle for a four year, $229 million contract. With this being the first time Don\u010di\u0107 faced his former team, many wondered if he had revenge and even money on his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Luka from DEEP \ud83c\udfaf<br><br>Immediately stares down the Mavs bench \ud83d\udc40 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qdxcUfqtIe\">pic.twitter.com\/qdxcUfqtIe<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAonTNT\/status\/1894588487061606678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite his good play, Don\u010di\u0107 was indeed emotional as he said in the press conference that \u201cit was just a lot of emotions and not much sleep.\u201d He finished his comment by saying that \u201cI\u2019m just glad it\u2019s over, honestly.\u201d Dallas did not go away easily and made sure Luka was not the only talk of the night. The Mavericks dynamic backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson both scored in double figures as they notched 35 and 22 points respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u201cI\u2019m just glad it\u2019s over, honestly.\u201d Luka Doncic speaks after beating the Mavs\" width=\"676\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YpZpuaUV1CY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The game seemed to be getting out of hand in the middle of the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> quarter for the Mavs, who only shot 34.6% from the field in the first half. But former Laker Max Christie, who was shipped to Dallas in that 3-team trade, gave the Mavs a spark. He made two late clutch 3-pointers to cut the Lakers\u2019 lead to 59-51 at the half. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Max Christie hits a pair of 3s with under a minute in Q2 in his return to LA!<br><br>DAL trails LAL by 8 at halftime on TNT. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9pzRozTqAC\">pic.twitter.com\/9pzRozTqAC<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1894601298839773559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mavs eventually found their shot in the second half and were able to give the Lakers a game. At the end of the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> quarter, Lakers led 78-77. Thompson went on a hot streak late in the game by scoring 11 straight points, making sure his team hung with the Lakers in the 4<sup>th<\/sup> quarter. Heading into the final 5:30 of the game, Thompson hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 91-91. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Klay Thompson has scored 11 straight for the Mavs \ud83d\udd25<br><br>EXCITING 4TH QUARTER LIVE ON TNT! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GtnlFRQKUB\">pic.twitter.com\/GtnlFRQKUB<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1894614641575145817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Don\u010di\u0107 has been the latest talk of L.A., LeBron still had to remind everyone why he is called King James. He scored 16 of his 27 points in the 4<sup>th<\/sup> quarter to help stop any chances the Mavs had to win the game. Two of those points included a putback slam off of a Don\u010di\u0107 miss. It seemed to be James\u2019 defense that surely made a difference during crunch time as his physicality propelled many missed shots and turnovers for Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LEBRON PUTBACK SLAM \ud83d\udcaa <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gzZwORw7ef\">pic.twitter.com\/gzZwORw7ef<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAonTNT\/status\/1894618133328961628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the loss, Thompson still believes in his squad. The Mavs were without superstar Anthony Davis, who was also sent to Dallas as a part of the same 3-team trade between the teams. Dallas was also missing two additional key pieces in centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Thompson thinks they can win it all as the 4x champion proclaimed \u201cI know what a championship team looks like and feels like. I know we have what it takes to do that. We just have to get whole and hold down the fort until we get healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-398\" style=\"width:535px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38324\/2025\/02\/mavericks-klay-thompson-dribbles-vs-lakers.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Some Dallas fans do not seem to share Thompson\u2019s optimism about the squad. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, the man partially responsible for the blockbuster trade was in Crypto.com Arena for the game. Harrison had to endure expletives yelled at him prior to tip-off from ticked off Mavericks fans who are still upset about the trade. Then, during the game Lakers fans could be heard repeatedly chanting \u201cThank you Nico!\u201d to poke fun at the GM and emphasize how happy they are to have #77 on their roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Los Angeles improves to 35-21 while Dallas drops to 31-28. Both teams will play their next games at home on the 27<sup>th<\/sup>. Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas will return to American Airlines Center for a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dallas vs. Don\u010di\u0107! No one thought these words would ever be uttered. But a surprise trade on February 2 saw Luka Don\u010di\u0107, the former Mavericks superstar traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Tuesday\u2019s night game on TNT surely did not&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/2025\/02\/27\/game-report-dallas-mavericks-vs-los-angeles-lakers\/\">Continue Reading &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30466,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wds_primary_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30466"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":424,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396\/revisions\/424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/dmyarichardsportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}