LOS ANGELES — — The Los Angeles Lakers withstood a Luka Doncic barrage to hold off a charging Dallas Mavericks, 127-110, on Wednesday night at the Crypto.com Arena.
Doncic served a 33-point triple-double to go with 13 rebounds and 10 assists,but it wasn’t enough to beat the Lakers who shot a scorching 53.8 percent from the field (49-of-91) and 42.9 percent from 3 (12-of-28).
Anthony Davis led LA’s stand by flirting with a triple-double of his own — 28 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. LeBron James chipped in 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 dimes and De’Angelo Russell added 29 markers on an impressive 5-of-7 treys.
“He’s learning from me how to pass out of the post,” LeBron James said. “He’s been working on it and it’s great. Teams are going to stop doubling him soon. As long as we make shots out there for him. It’s our job to make sure we are in the right position at the right time when he gets doubled.”
Davis, a multiple-time All-Star has averaged only 2,4 assists per game in 12 seasons but he has dished four in his last five outings. icluding a career-high 11 Saturday in a win over the Utah Jazz when he recorded his second triple-double.
“When guys are open, we’re throwing them the ball and tell them to shoot it,” Davis said. “It’s not like we’re going out and being selfish with the shots. We’re having fun while we’re doing it and making the right plays.”
Derek Lively II finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Dallas while Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr added 12 apiece. But the Mavericks struggled beyond the arc,hitting just 11 of 40 attempts while also getting beat on the boards, 46-43.
“First game back was tough with the legs,” said Doncic who returned from an akle injury. “I thought a lot of 3s were going in and they didn’t,” he said.
Doncic;s struggles with the 3-ball was mirrored by the rest of the team.
“We generated a lot of wide open looks and they didn’t drop for us,” coach Jason Kidd said. “They made it a point to have pace and took advantage of the misses. When you miss open shots against a team like that, they are going to make you pay.”
