- Luka Dončić broke into tears during his emotional return to Dallas, honoured with a tribute video
- The Slovenian dropped 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112:97 win over the Mavericks
- Los Angeles climbed to 3rd in the West, while Dallas are locked into the Play-In Tournament
Key Takeaways:
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić was brought to tears upon his return to the arena of his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, after a tribute video featuring his best moments with the Texas franchise was shown, ending with the words, “Thank you for everything, Luka” in Slovenian.
The guard was part of the deal that stunned the basketball world earlier this season when he was traded to the Lakers in what is considered one of the most surprising deals in basketball history, with Anthony Davis moving in the opposite direction.
The AAC is decked out with 20,000 t-shirts reading “Hvala za vse”, which means “thank you for everything” in Slovenian.
Luka Doncic makes his return to Dallas tonight, for the first time as a Mavs opponent. pic.twitter.com/m5enrOmce4
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) April 9, 2025
After the tribute from his former team, Dončić was ruthless on the court, scoring 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112:97 win in the final game of the regular season.
“So many emotions I can’t explain. I didn’t know how I’d play after that video. I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to go out there, but my teammates helped me, and I really appreciate it. I love the Dallas fans and my former teammates. I love this city, but it’s time to move forward,” Dončić told ESPN.
By halftime alone, Dončić had already scored an impressive 31 points before easing off in the second half. He finished with 45 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. LeBron James also played a key role in the victory with 27 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. For Dallas, Naji Marshall was the top scorer with 23 points.
With this win, the Lakers climbed to third place in the Western Conference with a 49–31 record. Their playoff opponent has yet to be determined. Dallas sit in tenth but are guaranteed a spot in the Play-In Tournament.