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For the first time ever, Luka Dončić will face off against the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers play host to the Mavericks on Tuesday in the Crypto Arena, the first time the two teams have matched up since their seismic trade earlier this month. Dončić will be up against the team that acquired him during the 2018 NBA Draft. A team that he just led to the NBA Finals last June. It will be an emotional matchup for both sides between two teams jockeying for Western Conference playoff position.
The Lakers (34-21) are coming off an impressive win over the Denver Nuggets their last time out. Dončić played his best game as a Laker on Saturday, leading the team in points (32), rebounds (10), and assists (7), in LA’s first win in Denver in nearly three years. His chemistry with LeBron James began to surface in the impressive victory. Dončić assisted James on several baskets, including an alley-oop lob that made the rounds across social media. Defensively, the Lakers held three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting and six turnovers.
On the Mavericks’ (31-27) side, it’s a depleted roster and a discouraged fanbase. Dallas fell to the new-look Golden State Warriors on Sunday by a score of 126-102. Multiple injuries up front forced the Mavericks to start 6-foot-6 P.J. Washington at center. They might be forced into a similar look Tuesday with centers Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and Dwight Powell on the mend.
Anthony Davis, who will not be suiting up against his former team, is also nursing an injury. Davis has been out since Feb. 8 after suffering an injury in his game as a Maverick. He’s set to be re-evaluated in a week. The Mavericks desperately need Davis back on the floor if they want to make a push for a top-6 seed. Max Christie, who the Mavericks also acquired in the Dončić deal, has played extremely well for his new team but went just 1-for-5 with 2 points in the loss to the Warriors.
Maverick fans have continued to express their displeasure with the team’s front office. It may reach an all-time high on Tuesday night, especially if Dončić posts a big game against his former team. It will be fascinating to see how the 25-year-old approaches the matchup. Especially with the reports that surfaced following the shocking deal.
Dallas GM Nico Harrison reportedly had concerns about Dončić’s weight and the team’s ability to win at the highest level given his defensive deficiencies. The Lakers held the Nuggets to 20 points below their season average on Saturday, and Dončić recorded four steals in the outing. He also looks noticeably slimmed from the time he arrived in Los Angeles.
ESPN’s Dave Mcmenamin released a story early Tuesday morning detailing Dončić’s first three weeks with the Lakers. A source close to the Slovenian superstar claims that Dončić was motivated by the negative remarks made by the Mavericks’ front office. In the article, the source said of Dončić, “A beast was awakened inside him.”
Dončić is known for his quick starts and registered 16 points in the first quarter against the Nuggets. If he notches a few baskets early, it could be a long night for the Dallas faithful. It would be their first time experiencing what Dončić has done to the other 29 teams time and time again.
