Doncic and Exum Guide Mavericks to Victory Over LeBron-Led Lakers

Luka Doncic put on another stellar performance, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a narrow 127-125 win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Doncic continued his impressive streak, scoring 33 points along with 17 assists and six rebounds, marking his eighth consecutive game with over 30 points. The contest against the Lakers, who were coming off their win in the season’s first in-season tournament, was a tight one at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The game was closely fought, with eight lead changes. The Lakers managed to erase a 15-point deficit in the third quarter, briefly gaining a four-point lead in the fourth. However, Dante Exum of Dallas shone in the final quarter, scoring 17 points, including five three-pointers, propelling the Mavericks to victory.

Exum ended the game with 26 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 32 points off the bench to aid Doncic. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis led the scoring with 37 points, and LeBron James added 33.

Despite an ankle roll and a bloodied lip, Doncic remained determined to stay in the game. He expressed his commitment to playing against top competitors and praised his team’s collective effort, especially with many players sidelined.

Doncic also touched on the MVP discussion, acknowledging his flattery but emphasizing that his focus is on team success and winning a championship.

With this victory, the Mavericks improved to a 15-8 record, while the Lakers dropped to 14-10, staying sixth in the Western Conference.

In other NBA action, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors faced ejection for the third time this season in their 119-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns. His ejection followed a physical altercation with Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic. The Suns secured the win, led by Devin Booker’s 32 points, as the Warriors suffered another road loss.

Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic also saw an ejection in their 114-106 win over the Chicago Bulls after a heated exchange with an official.

The Boston Celtics overcame an early deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-113, maintaining their unbeaten home record. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 25 points for the Celtics, who rallied from a 15-point first-quarter lag. Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points for the Cavs, with Darius Garland adding 26.

Tatum reflected on the Celtics’ resilience and their ability to recover from a slow start to secure the win.