Luka Doncic, Lakers survive the emotional game against Mavericks

Los Angeles – The song began late in the first half on Tuesday night, at the 200 level of the sand. At the end of the game, when the Lakers were finally keeping the Dallas Mavericks, it had spread throughout the building.

“Thank you, Nico … Thank you, Nico … Thank you, Nico …”

It was addressed to the general manager of Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, who will be known forever in northern Texas as The guy who changed to Luka Doncic. On Tuesday night, Doncic and Lakers faced the Mavericks in downtown Los Angeles, and Harrison, who is not the most popular man in Dallas these days, faced music, making this trip with the team And sitting some rows behind visitors.

Let’s say the first direct returns of this agreement favored the Lakers.

Yes, it was emotional, and that could have had an effect. Doncic had an irregular shooting night, making 6 of 17 field goal attempts and 1 for 7 from a range of 3 points. He was not the only one who fought, on a night when the Lakers fired 11 by 40 (27.5%) from behind the arch and 28 for 47 (59.5%) within it.

But this was an example of Doncic the full player. Even with his firing less than reliable, he ended with a triple double (19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists) plus three robberies and two blocked shots, In the 107-99 victory of his new team over his old.

Thanks, in fact. And considering that this was a national television game, those songs represented a first -class trolling, given how raw that have been the emotions in Dallas.

The game itself could have been an illustration of how these new Lakers could handle things in the future. The Lakers had an advantage of 16 points in the first half, at approximately the moment those songs began, in reality, but 91-91 were tied in the middle of the last quarter before putting a final kick, mainly supplied by the 16 LeBron James Fourth points, to get away at the end.

“He is doing it at 40, which is crazy,” said Doncic, who turns 26 on Friday.

The Jaxson Hayes initial center played only 16:51. When he went to the bank, the Lakers became small, using Dorian Finney-Smith of 6 feet 7 and 6-9 Jarred Vanderbilt along with 6-8 Rui Hachimura.

What they have been doing has been working. The victory on Tuesday night was its 15th in 19 games dating from mid -January. The Lakers have won three in a row and nine of their last 11, all those who do not have Anthony Davis, who was injured just before that section in a defeat in Philadelphia, the victories were lost in Washington and New York on that trip and was changed The Victory of the Lakers in Madison Square Garden.

The Lakers Honor Davis with a video tribute during the first time of waiting on Tuesdaya good touch and absolutely deserved considering The role Davis played to help hang the banner of championship No. 17 in 2020.

And now for irony. Doncic was supposedly out of form and a defensive responsibility, if he believed that Spin Harrison provided after the trade when he publicly denigrated his former player, as did the governor of the Mavericks, Patrick Dumont.

But in the six games since Doncic began to adapt to the Lakers (one of those in Portland sat last week), its defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) is 105.6. Their qualification in the last 15 games (107.3) links them with Boston and Cleveland at the top of the league in that category.

In the last five minutes of the game on Tuesday, Dallas scored eight points. The Lakers scored 15.

On the other hand, LeBron could have something to do with that defensive efficiency.

“If you see our basketball team every night, and you have seen our team now during the last six weeks or so, LeBron plays at a level of defense All-NBA,” said coach JJ Redick. “He is.

“People can have perceptions of what is as a defender. I see it every night. They are not noted in isolation if the teams try to point to it. He blows plays. He is always in the right position, changing, recovering. I think there was this perception of him at this age, such as, retaining energy. No. There is no energy conservation at that end of the floor. He has played elite defense for a while. “

Crazy? Davis’s exchange was supposed to push another hole in the defensive efficiency of the Lakers. But they seem to have compensated with a more efficient and aggressive defensive effort. How far the little small ball will take in the future (it is worth noting that Dallas played without the 6-10 Davis, the 6-10 Daniel Gafford and the 7-1 Dirck Lively II on Tuesday), but they have had some impressive efforts to this point.

Doncic, at least, will not have to worry about the old companions or memories or none of that again until April 9, when the Lakers visit Dallas for their third regular season game.

He saw the old teammates, greeting Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving – “Mi Hand “ As he called it, just before the entrance, as well as Max Christie, who went from Dallas in the agreement. He did not recognize Harrison, even during the warm -up period prior to the game when the general manager of Dallas was in court.

“There were only many emotions (Tuesday night), honestly,” said Doncic. “I can’t even explain. It was a different game. As I said, sometimes I don’t know what I was doing. I’m glad it’s over, sincerely. “

Both Redick and James thought Doncic really handled the emotions of the night well.

“I mean, obviously a lot of emotion comes in,” James said. “You give a lot to a franchise and sacrifice for a franchise. … He has grown up to be a 18 and 19 -year -old boy to a man, 25 -year -old family and all that.

“When you move on or move from you, it is very emotional, obviously. It is very demanding. You know, there are probably many things that happen in their head that probably did not even involve the game itself. So, with that said, I thought he handled it excellent. ”

Any closure, Doncic said: “I think it will take time. I don’t know. It’s alone, it’s not ideal. I’m glad this game is over. There were many emotions. It will go little by little. Every day is better. “

Anyway, this is at home now. And we have concrete evidence that fans are grateful.

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