Luka Doncic can guide the Lakers to a perfect record in group play of the NBA Cup, and do it against his former team, when Los Angeles plays host to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
The Lakers already have advanced to the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament thanks to a 3-0 mark in West Group B, while the Mavericks have been eliminated from a chance to move on due to a 1-2 record. But Doncic is far from without incentive.
The five-time All-Star helped the Lakers to a pair of victories over the Mavericks last season following his shocking trade to Los Angeles, including a 45-point outburst at Dallas on April 9.
More important, the Friday game provides a fourth chance for Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James to play together after James’ return from sciatica.
The trio dominated in a 135-118 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday that clinched the Lakers’ spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Doncic amassed 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. Reaves logged 31 points and nine rebounds, and James posted a season-high 25 points to go with six rebounds and six assists.
“It was a great game for all three of those guys,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Luka getting going early and establishing himself. LeBron and AR, staying patient within that, being very efficient in that first half within that onslaught that Luka had knowing that there’s going to be adjustments made.”
James, a four-time MVP in his 23rd season, appears to have no issue following somebody else’s lead.
“Luka got it going early,” James said. “Kind of set the tone of what it was going to be offensively, and then we just followed that train.”
Tied for second in the Western Conference, the Lakers now will face the team tied for second worst.
The Mavericks last played on Monday, when they fell 106-102 on the road against the Miami Heat.
Dallas’ P.J. Washington scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Daniel Gafford paired 11 points with 11 rebounds, and rookie Cooper Flagg scored 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 34 minutes.
Dallas shot 39.2% from the floor while losing for the fourth time in its past five games. The Mavericks played without Dereck Lively II because of swelling in his surgically repaired right foot, and he will not play on Friday, either.
There remains a chance that Anthony Davis will return from a left calf strain on Friday after missing the previous 14 games. Davis, who was part of the swap for Doncic, returned to practice on Wednesday and is expected to play either Friday or Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“You know what game I want to play, but we’ll see,” Davis said. “We’ll have a conversation. See what makes the most sense with the medical staff and coaching staff. No decision has been made. … But at the end of the day, it’s getting back on the floor, whether it’s Friday or Saturday. Whatever we discuss.”
Since he was acquired from the Lakers last season, Davis has played just 14 of a possible 53 games for the Mavericks, producing averages of 20.3 points with 10.1 rebounds.
