‘Really Proud’ Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavs Close Out Los Angeles Lakers for 4th Consecutive Win
DALLAS — On the second night of a back-to-back, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, with 127-125 being the final score. Beginning with a 50-point routing of the Utah Jazz, the Mavs have won four consecutive games, improving to 15-8 on the season, while the Lakers are now 14-10.
The Lakers were aggressive with blitzing in ball screen coverage early to get the ball out of Luka Doncic's hands throughout the game. Dallas had the Slovenian superstar play off-the-ball for stretches to move him around the half-court, creating chances to gain touches in different spots to pressure the defense. The goal seemed clear: to draw two defenders on the ball and play the numbers game.
"I think it's a compliment [to Luka],” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said of the Lakers’ constant double-teams. “He's one of the best in the world. I think he's got to absorb that – I think he has absorbed that of being double teamed.
“He's a competitor, he wants to win. Sometimes he gets frustrated because someone might miss a shot or turn the ball over. But I think you can see his maturity has gotten better because he knows that his teammates are trying to do the right thing. There's a lot of beautiful things happening right now."
Doncic was slow to get up after a play late in the first quarter, resulting in him getting his ankle wrapped by a trainer on the sideline before returning to start the second period. He appeared to have stepped on Austin Reaves' shoe after the Lakers guard fell to the floor after attempting a finish.
Dallas turned to utilizing an extra screener in actions to open the floor up for Doncic and make the defense have to make multiple reads, using stack pick-and-roll, double-drag screens, and even occasionally an off-ball action such as a wide action up top or double stagger out of the corner. The goal was to continue to put the Lakers into situations where they had to pick their poison and make multiple reads.
With floor spacing threats like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams back from injury absences, the Mavs were well-equipped to punish the Lakers for sending two at the ball, even with Irving sidelined. Despite the Lakers' best efforts to make others beat them besides Doncic, the Mavs scored 71 points before halftime, establishing a 10-point lead.
"Luka probably has to lead the league in double teams. He's been double-teamed for a majority of the game," Kidd said. "His trust with his teammates, if it's not Timmy [Hardaway Jr.], it’s [Danté] Exum. And if it's not that, it's the next guy up. You trust that the guys are going to make the right play or take the shot. Tonight, Exum was the one he was looking for."
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James and Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Hardaway, who entered the game as questionable on the injury report with back spasms, laid his body on the line, taking multiple charges in the game. His early impact scoring was integral, scoring 20 points in the first half — marking his second half of the season scoring 20 or more points.
"It didn't help at all, but I have to lay my body on the line for my team," Hardaway said of how taking charges impacted his back. "Those three charges definitely gave us extra possessions. It doesn't show up on a stat sheet, but it does show up on the hustle plays when we watch film. That's all that matters."
Without Kyrie Irving available to play, along with various other important players — including Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., and Maxi Kleber — the Mavs needed their available complementary threats to be aggressive and ready to make plays. However, the mindset of staying within a role but doing it consistently remains key.
"No, you have the same mindset for the most part. [You have to] be aggressive coming off the bench," Hardaway said. "I know what I have to do offensively and defensively. Today was a great day."
After late in the first half and carrying it over after the break, the Lakers mixed up their defensive coverages from sending early doubles to often loading the gaps by pre-rotating help, whether using the low-man or at the nail. The Mavs began switching hunting using multiple screeners more frequently to create mismatches, often targeting Anthony Davis in space.
With Doncic resting late in the third quarter, the Mavs' already diminished offense flattened, resulting in a game-low 22 points scored in the period. Meanwhile, the inability of Dallas' defense to contain Davis continued. A stretch involving an isolation jumper followed by a pick-and-pop 3-pointer gave Los Angeles a 95-93 lead, the score entering the final period.
"He wanted to stay in the game with three minutes left (in the third quarter), but we've got to figure out how to get him out of the game with the lead. If the game was tied or we're down two, he's fresh and ready to go for the fourth," Kidd said. :The easy part would have just been to bring him back as the lead started to go away, but I thought about leaving him there, giving him those 3 minutes – he hasn't had a break in the second half here of late.
"Also, we trust the group that's out there playing is going to do their part," Kidd explained. "The other thing is for him to learn how to rest on offense when he gets double teamed – and that's what he's doing. He's getting double teamed at the top of the floor and he's trusting once he does that, it's advantage basketball. We do want to get healthy. We don't want to play him 44 minutes right now."
With the Lakers continuing to make Doncic the focus of their defense in the fourth quarter, the Slovenian superstar found his open teammates with precise — and sometimes flashy — passes. Exum was a key beneficiary, converting a pair of made 3-pointers. It remained a single-possession game for much of the final period until Exum's fifth made 3-pointer extended Dallas' edge to 113-108 with 5:37 left. He set a new career-high with a sixth make from deep to extend the lead to six points, then added another — scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter.
"I think it started in L.A. And then a lot of teams started to put their five on me,' Exum said. "So, ever since then I have been in the gym working. Credit to the staff and even our players. Constantly trusting me to shoot the ball and to pass it to me. It was trust in myself and confidence to keep shooting it.
"I think how Luka plays and he can find anyone at any point. Knowing guys are going to help off to double him, and I have to be ready," Exum explained. "I try to put myself in the situation where I can be on the floor. I don't want to be the guy that is taken out because I can't hit that shot."
Doncic was often deployed as a screener to create a clean tough with a mismatch in the middle of the floor to set the tone for the Mavs' offense down the stretch. Dallas managed to close it out with timely plays, whether it was Lively coming up with an offensive rebound or hot perimeter shooting continuing to pull through.
"I don't know how I played. I slept very little today, and everything hurts,” Doncic said. “I am getting older. But we got two back-to-back wins, which is amazing, especially against a team like the Lakers. So, I am really proud of these guys."
Doncic finished with 33 points, six rebounds, and 17 assists after playing 43 minutes, leading the Mavs throughout the night. Hardaway scored 32 points off the bench, accounting for most of the team's 38 bench points. Dallas also received 26 points on seven made 3-pointers from Exum. It was the first time the team received 25 or more points from three players in the same game all season. Grant Williams nearly reached the 20-point threshold, scoring 19 points with five made shots from deep.
The Mavs received contributions from Lively in the interior, finishing with eight points, eight rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Against a premier matchup like Davis, the rookie center was able to leave a clear imprint on the game with a needed impact on both ends of the floor. It came less than 24 hours after having to handle Jaren Jackson Jr. in the victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. However, he remained a steady-handed release valve against double teams out of short rolls.
"Take the age out – he's a basketball player. He understands how to play the game. He's very coachable," Kidd said of Lively. "This was a great test for him on a back-to-back after last night's game and the minutes and the physicality.
"Then, to turn around going from Jaren Jackson to AD and understanding he's playing against two All-Stars – he's going through it," Kidd explained. "But again, I think the trust – not just of the coaches but his teammates – if Luka is being double-teamed, he's also looking for Lively to score or play make. It just shows how important he is to this team but how good he really is."
After scoring 127 points, the Mavs recorded their 14th game with 120 or more points on the season — the most they've had through 23 games in team history. The team set the tone by shooting 44-89 (49.4 percent) from the floor, 21-43 (48.8 percent) from beyond the arc, and 18-21 (85.7 percent) on free throws. Dallas finished with only 10 turnovers and is now 10-1 in 11 games with 10 or fewer turnovers this season, along with recording more offensive rebounds (12) than the Lakers (10).
Los Angeles received big performances from Davis and James overall. Davis totaled 37 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks to lead all scorers. Meanwhile, James added 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, playing a team-high 40 minutes. Austin Reaves chipped in 22 points, five rebounds, and eight assists off the bench.
The Mavs return to action on Thursday when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, completing a two-game stretch at American Airlines Center.
