Luka Doncic triumphs in reunion with Mavericks

NBA superstar Luka Doncic marked his highly anticipated return against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, with a decisive victory. Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 107-99 win in their home game, marking their third consecutive victory and the 13th win in the last 16 games.

The Slovenian player, who was traded in a spectacular deal from the Mavericks to the Lakers, scored 19 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and provided 12 assists. This performance led to Doncic’s first triple-double with his new team.

LeBron James shines in the final moments

LeBron James was the Lakers‘ leading scorer with 27 points, including 16 points in the final quarter. Maximilian Kleber, the German player who transitioned from the Mavericks to the Lakers alongside Doncic, was absent due to injury. Despite an impressive performance from Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points for Dallas, the Mavericks were unable to secure a win.

Doncic, who was a central figure for the Mavericks and seen as the successor to team legend Dirk Nowitzki, was unexpectedly traded by the Mavericks at the end of January. Just last season, Dallas reached the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics with Doncic.

James reflected on the emotional nature of the game, stating, „There were a lot of emotions involved. When you give so much to a franchise and sacrifice, you grow from a young 18, 19-year-old to a 25-year-old man. He and the franchise became a family. He handled it outstandingly,“ said the 40-year-old.

Magic suffer another painful defeat

Meanwhile, World Champion Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic faced another painful loss. The Florida team was completely outmatched by the top-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers, losing 82-122 at home. Cleveland was ahead by 18 points after the first quarter. This loss continues the rollercoaster of recent weeks for Orlando, who are currently aiming for a playoff berth.

Once again, Wagner and his teammate Paolo Banchero had to shoulder the team’s performance alone. The German scored 19 points, while Banchero stood out with 26 points due to his seven successful free throws. No other player from Orlando reached double digits, and the German rookie Tristan da Silva went scoreless.