Mavericks, Lakers reported to meet in 2025 preseason

Let the fireworks begin.

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The 2024-25 campaign is over for both the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas was humiliated in the Play-In Tournament against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Lakers lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

That leaves the teams with a longer offseason to heal up and get ready for next season, at least for most players, as Luka Doncic will be participating in the 2025 EuroBasket. And while next season may seem like it's far away, some schedule rumors are already starting to leak.

READ MORE: Breakout Mavericks forward breaks silence on Luka Doncic-Lakers trade

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

NBA insider Marc Stein of the DLLS Network reported on Wednesday that the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Lakers are expected to meet in October in the NBA Preseason in Las Vegas before the 2025-26 season. Given all of the drama between the two teams this year centered around the swap of Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic, this could be a juicier preseason game than most, even if players like Doncic don't play.

Expect an early season matchup between the Mavericks and Luka Dončić in 2025-26:

I'm told that the Lakers and Mavericks are lining up to play a preseason game in Las Vegas in October. 

More NBA from me: https://t.co/IIIlAloJCf

And noon CT today on @DLLS_Sports pic.twitter.com/7tUrxDr9DA

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 7, 2025

The game being in Las Vegas is very interesting. There were a lot of unfounded rumors floating after the Mavs traded away Luka Doncic that the new owners of the team were looking to move the team to Vegas. With their casino ties as owners of the Las Vegas Sands corporation, people were just connecting the dots, but all of those rumors have been consistently shut down.

L.A. and the Mavs played twice after the trade last season with the Lakers winning both games, including when Doncic returned to Dallas and torched his former team for 45 points, which pleased the Dallas fanbase. Most Mavs fans will root for Doncic over the Mavs, at least until Nico Harrison is fired.

READ MORE: Two Mavericks assistants amongst candidates for Suns head coaching job

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