Luka Doncic helps rally Mavs to key win over Lakers

Behind the nifty passing of Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks executed a come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-93, Saturday night, April 24, at home.

The Mavericks trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half but leaned on Doncic to get the offense going in the second half.

Defensively, the Lakers doubled and harassed Doncic all game, coaxing 6 turnovers out of the dynamic, 22-year-old swingman.

However, Dallas went to work offensively in the second half, with Doncic picking Los Angeles apart when the Lakers doubled him by finding wide open cutters to the basket. The Mavericks cut LA’s 12-point advantage to 79-all at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Mavericks then took over in the fourth, extending their lead to double digits points and closing it out down the stretch.

Doncic finished with 18 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds. Dwight Powell posted a game-high 25 points and 9 rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith totaled 21 points and 7 rebounds for Dallas. Powell shot 11-of-12 from the floor.

With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a late scratch due to a right ankle sprain, Ben McLemore got his first start as a Laker and carried the load early. McLemore went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, finishing with 20 points as Los Angeles grabbed a 26-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Los Angeles shot just 12-for-45 (26.7%) from the 3-point line for the game.

In his second game back from a right calf strain that kept him out for 30 straight games, Anthony Davis looked more like his old self, finishing with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes. However, Davis shot just 5-for-19 from the field.

Dennis Schroder finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists. Kyle Kuzma added 14 points.

Center Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle sprain) and Josh Richardson (hamstring) did not play for Dallas.

With their second straight win over the Lakers, the Mavericks improved to 33-26 and are just 1 1/2 games behind the 35-25 Lakers, who hold the No. 5 seed. Dallas also owns the tiebreaker over Los Angeles by taking the season series 2-1. – Rappler.com