Luka Doncic always knew it was going to be an emotional return to Dallas when wearing his No. 77 Los Angeles Lakers jersey in the place he called home the first five-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career.
Then the Mavericks showed a more than two-minute video tribute before he had even been introduced before his first game back on Wednesday, two months after being traded.
Doncic watched while sitting on the bench alone, with tears in his eyes and wondering if he would even be able to get through the game.
Photo: AFP
“After that video, I was like: There’s no way I’m playing this game,” Doncic said. “So many moments, and I just went out there and just played basketball.”
More than play, he had another standout performance.
Doncic matched his season high with 45 points in a 112-97 victory that clinched a playoff spot for the Lakers. He already had 14 points on five-of-nine shooting with three threes in the first 10-and-a-half minutes.
Photo: AP
“It was a beautiful moment. I thought the video was great, but I think just his ability to then go perform, lights turn on, he’s teary-eyed still as we walk out on the court for the tip ball,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said. “To have the emotional resolve to then go put on that kind of performance, it’s superhuman.”
The other four Lakers starters had already been introduced as Doncic looked up to watch many highlights from his time in Dallas — from being the 2018-2019 NBA Rookie of the Year to last year’s NBA Finals, when he was the league scoring champion.
Doncic did not make it all the way through before putting his head down and wiping away tears. His eyes were still red once he was introduced and came on the court to be surrounded by his teammates and get several hugs.
“It was a little bit of both, happy and angry, but it’s nice to see some familiar faces here,” Doncic said about arriving at the American Airlines Center before the game. “It was a lot emotions. When I woke up, I was tired. Ain’t going to lie, I didn’t sleep much. Excited about this game. I really appreciate the fans, the way they reacted to me.”
Los Angeles are 21-12 since Doncic was acquired.
The Lakers are 17-9 in the games he has played for them.
The Mavericks secured a Western Conference play-in spot later on Wednesday when the Phoenix Suns lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 125-112.
In Orlando, Florida, the Magic beat the Boston Celtics 96-76 to clinch the No. 7 seed for the play-in tournament.
Orlando are to be at home against the No. 8 seeds on Tuesday next week, with the winners to open the Eastern Conference playoffs against Boston, who are locked in as No. 2 seeds.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:
‧ Kings 116, Nuggets 124
‧ Clippers 134, Rockets 117
‧ Raptors 126, Hornets 96
‧ Wizards 103, 76ers 122
‧ Bulls 119, Heat 111
‧ Jazz 133, Trail Blazers 126 (OT)
‧ Warriors 111, Spurs 114
Additional reporting by Reuters
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