Luka Doncic got emotional when the Dallas Mavericks, the team he played on for six and a half seasons before getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, played a video tribute to him just prior to Wednesday's game. He admitted afterward that he wasn't sure if he would be able to play once the video was done playing.
But he channeled his emotions and kept his poise enough to deliver a masterclass. He scored 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from 3-point range, to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals, and he drove the Lakers to a very important 112-97 victory over Dallas.
Head coach JJ Redick praised Doncic's ability to focus after such an emotional moment and deliver such an outstanding performance. He then jokingly said he was disappointed the Slovenian superstar didn't get to 50 points.
A deadpan JJ Redick: “I thought he was going to get 50. … Disappointed”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 10, 2025Doncic's shooting efficiency and overall play with the Lakers have gradually improved lately. The team now has a 49-31 record and will bypass the play-in tournament to make the playoff outright for the first time since 2020.
It needs just one win in its final two regular-season games to clinch the third seed in the Western Conference.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick jokes about being disappointed with Luka Doncic vs Dallas
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