The Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Dallas Mavericks on the road, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both absent from the Mavericks lineup. The Mavericks started with Dinwiddie, Clay, Marshall, Washington, and Leffley; while the Lakers had Reaves, Christie, Hachimura, James, and Davis.
In the first quarter, the Mavericks took an early 7-3 lead, but the Lakers quickly responded with a 9-2 run to take the lead. LeBron James made a spectacular dunk, and after a timeout at 12-11, Hachimura scored inside, followed by Davis' 2+1 and mid-range jumper, keeping the Lakers ahead. Grimes drew a foul for two free throws, leading to another timeout. After the break, Grimes hit consecutive free throws and a three-pointer to tie the game, with James hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the quarter with the Lakers leading 27-24.
In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, the Mavericks' outside shooting opened up, going on an 8-2 run to take the lead. Knecht drew a foul for two free throws, but Kidd's challenge failed. Both teams then engaged in a flurry of fouls and free throws, making the game ugly. Christie hit a three-pointer and a dunk, helping the Lakers slightly increase their lead to 50-44, prompting a Mavericks timeout. Upon returning, Clay hit three consecutive three-pointers, and Dinwiddie finished with a buzzer-beating dunk, leaving the Lakers trailing 50-55 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks continued their outside shooting to expand their lead, going on a 10-3 run to lead by 12 points, forcing a Lakers timeout. After the timeout, James and Christie stepped up to stop the bleeding, with the score seesawing as both teams traded baskets. James assisted Davis to close the gap to 5 points, leading to another Mavericks timeout. Following the timeout, Hardy hit two three-pointers, to which Davis responded with a 2+1. However, Hardy and Grimes each hit another three-pointer, allowing the Mavericks to extend their lead to 15 points, forcing the Lakers to call another timeout. The third quarter ended with the Mavericks leading 89-76.
In the fourth quarter, James led the charge, with Knecht and Smith hitting back-to-back three-pointers, and James himself scoring a jump shot. However, Clay and Washington stepped up to stabilize the situation, with James drawing a foul and entering a timeout. After the timeout, James made two free throws, but Dinwiddie responded with a 2+1, and Washington hit another three-pointer to maintain a 12-point lead. The Mavericks' outside shooting remained consistent, securing their lead. Grimes hit another three-pointer, and Washington's dunk increased the lead to 14 points, prompting the Lakers to call a timeout and bring James back in. However, Grimes hit another three-pointer, effectively ending the game.
Ultimately, the Mavericks won at home with a score of 118-97. Let's take a look at the specific performances of the players!
The Mavericks' three-point shooting was the key to their victory over the Lakers, even without Doncic and Irving. Before halftime, Clay hit three consecutive three-pointers, helping the team take the lead.
In the third quarter, Hardy became the X-factor, hitting three three-pointers in the quarter for 11 points. In the fourth quarter, Grimes, Hardy, and Washington continued their outside shooting barrage.
Throughout the game, the Mavericks made 18 three-pointers.
James' performance was disappointing, as the Lakers suffered a humiliating loss to the Mavericks without Doncic and Irving. In the first half, he went 6 for 3 (2 for 1 from three-point range), made 2 of 2 free throws, scoring 9 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists, and recording 1 steal, with a negative plus/minus of -12.
In the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, which was already garbage time, James still played, seemingly trying to pad his stats. In the entire game, he played 35 minutes, shooting 6 for 12, 1 for 4 from three-point range, and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Davis struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 3 for 10, missing all his three-point attempts, and making 6 of 7 free throws, scoring 12 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and blocking 2 shots.
In the entire game, he played 35 minutes, shooting 7 for 18, making 7 of 9 free throws, and putting up an impressive 21 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, despite the loss.
Dinwiddie, facing his former team, the Lakers, showed no mercy. In the first half, he went 5 for 8, hitting 1 of 3 three-pointers and 1 of 1 free throws, scoring 12 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists.
In the game, Dinwiddie played 35 minutes, shooting 8 for 15, 1 for 5 from three-point range, and 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, finishing with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal.
Grimes had a breakout game off the bench, hitting 4 three-pointers in the first half for 14 points and 3 rebounds.
In the fourth quarter, his crucial three-pointer sealed the game. He played 29 minutes, shooting 8 for 17, 6 for 11 from three-point range, and 1 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 23 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists.