The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a dramatic night in Dallas, dominating early, collapsing after halftime, and ultimately rallying late to secure a 116–110 victory over the Mavericks Lakers vs Mavericks.
Los Angeles built an early advantage that reached 14 points, only to see it swing the other way as Dallas surged ahead by as many as 15. Despite the momentum shifts, the Lakers showed resilience, mounting a late comeback to steal the win on the road Lakers vs Mavericks.
Strong play in the first half allowed LA to control the game for long stretches, but everything unraveled in the third quarter. The Mavericks completely outmatched the Lakers during that period, outscoring them 35–14. Dallas carried that momentum into the fourth, extending the run to 41–14 after scoring the opening six points of the final frame.
Once the Lakers regained their composure, they fought back behind key contributions from Marcus Smart, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura. Hachimura delivered the biggest shots of the night, knocking down two crucial three-pointers that put LA ahead for good as they closed out the contest Lakers vs Mavericks.
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The game opened with LeBron James and Cooper Flagg trading baskets, while former Laker Max Christie quickly found his rhythm, hitting two three-pointers. Deandre Ayton got off to a solid start for Los Angeles with four early points. Frequent whistles led to eight combined free throws in the opening minutes, and the score was knotted at the midway point of the first quarter.
Lakers vs Mavericks Dončić was the first player to reach double figures, scoring 10 early points while connecting on two of three shots from beyond the arc. Rui Hachimura provided an instant spark off the bench with five quick points, and Jarred Vanderbilt once again made his presence felt with hustle plays and a corner three. The Lakers ended the opening quarter ahead by nine.
Marcus Smart opened the second quarter with a three, which was quickly answered by Caleb Martin. Los Angeles tightened up defensively, limiting Dallas to 40% shooting and stretching the lead into double digits. At the 5:16 mark, the Lakers held a 14-point advantage Lakers vs Mavericks.
LA shot the ball well from deep in the first half, hitting 50% of their attempts compared to Dallas’ 41%. Christie continued his strong performance against his former team, reaching 13 points, while Hachimura added 10 off the bench. The Lakers went into halftime leading by 13.
The third quarter began with Naji Marshall scoring inside, followed by a LeBron midrange jumper. After a brief exchange of baskets, the Lakers went cold, allowing Dallas to rip off a 10–0 run that cut the deficit to three. A timeout did little to slow the Mavericks, as Marshall scored again and Flagg’s runner put Dallas ahead.
Luka Dončić briefly stopped the bleeding for LA with five straight points, but the teams traded shots as the quarter wore on. Brandon Williams was especially effective for Dallas, tallying 17 points off the bench. Los Angeles faltered badly in the period, shooting just 31% and allowing 35 points on the defensive end. Entering the fourth, LA trailed by eight.
The final quarter opened with Drew Timme missing badly on a three, symbolizing the Lakers’ ongoing struggles. Williams stayed hot, completing a three-point play, and Caleb Martin later drilled another triple, pushing Dallas’ lead to 14.
LeBron James took matters into his own hands, scoring seven points in an attempt to rally his team and trimming the deficit to single digits. With just over five minutes remaining, LA was down eight.
Lakers vs. Mavericks: A Wild NBA Showdown
Jake LaRavia hit a three following a Smart steal, and with a little more than three minutes left, the Mavericks led by five after Christie knocked down a pair of free throws. Luka converted a layup to make it a three-point game, and Christie again delivered at the line.
Hachimura then delivered the turning point, completing a four-point play and following it up with another three on the next possession to put the Lakers in front. Flagg hit a free throw to cut the lead to one, but Smart answered with a putback layup, and LeBron extended the margin with a driving finish.
Dončić attempted to respond late, finishing with 33 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists, but the Lakers vs Mavericks’ late surge sealed the victory.
Key Player Performances
Dončić led all scorers with 33 points while nearly posting a triple-double. LeBron finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, most of his scoring coming in the fourth quarter. Jake LaRavia added 13 points for Dallas.
Marcus Smart recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Rui Hachimura contributed 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Deandre Ayton struggled, finishing with nine points on 4-of-16 shooting. Jarred Vanderbilt chipped in eight points, four rebounds, and two assists Lakers vs Mavericks.
The Lakers will look to carry the momentum forward when they face the Chicago Bulls on Monday at 5:00 PM PT.