Luka Doncic Drops Triple Double In Win Over Dallas Mavericks

Source: MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / Getty

The Los Angeles Lakers playing the Dallas Mavericks is typically a must-watch matchup as both teams (if healthy) are poised to make deep runs into the playoffs this year. But last night’s game upped the ante.

It was the first time the teams had met since the Mavs traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, and many assumed the Mavs made a terrible decision. Just days into his tenure, an injury-prone Daivs suffered a left abductor strain, so the short-staffed Mavs expectedly came up short against the Lakers 107-99.

But what fans might not have been expecting is how much of a fire was lit under Doncic’s feet as he took on his old team. He dropped his first triple-double as a Laker, putting up 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists.

He came out hot, scoring 10 points in the first six minutes of the game, including a long three-pointer that he capped off by staring down the Mavs bench. LeBron James and Austin Reeves trailed Doncic with their own solid performances, each dropping 20 points.

Fans in the Lakers’ Cyrpto.com Arena were clearly glad how the trade turned out and even started a “Thank You Nico” chant directed at Mavs GM Nico Harrison, who was instrumental in completing the blockbuster deal.

With all the hype surrounding the game, Doncic has been transparent about how hard it has been to adjust to the unexpected trade.

“It was just a lot of emotions and not much sleep. I can’t even explain. It was a different game. Sometimes I don’t know what I was doing. And I’m just glad it’s over, honestly,” he said after the game.

However, the Mavericks and Lakers will face off again on April 9, marking Doncic’s first time back in Dallas’ arena.

While the trade has still left some Mavs fans scratching their heads, a recent report from The Athletic revealed some of Doncic’s reported behavior that left the front office worried, including smoking hookah, drinking beer, and conditioning issues.

“Make no mistake, the people who witnessed Dončić’s last days in Dallas do not paint a flattering portrait of the 25-year-old’s professionalism. They call him lazy,” writes the New York Times. “They talk about the weight issues that were such a frequent frustration within their walls. They mention the social habits that The Athletic has reported on — such as a taste for beer and hookah — which have been a point of concern for NBA types since he was a 19-year-old star for Real Madrid who was entering the NBA Draft. They predict his basketball demise, highlighting a health history that, as some see it, will likely lead to catastrophe in the next five years or so.”

See how social media’s reacting to the latest in the Doncic trade saga below.

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