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<\/p>\nDALLAS \u2014 In his second game back at American Airlines Center since being traded almost a year ago, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 nearly had a 30-point triple-double.<\/p>\n
In the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 116-110 win Saturday over the Dallas Mavericks, Don\u010di\u0107 scored 33 points, hauled in eight rebounds and delivered 11 assists. He drained two of his signature stepback 3s and lived at the free-throw line, converting 14 of 15 attempts.<\/p>\n
The Mavericks officially called the game a sellout. While there was a smattering of seats that went unfilled, Saturday was an impressive fan turnout considering the snowy and icy conditions affecting North Texas.<\/p>\n
The crowd roared when Don\u010di\u0107 was introduced. The 26-year-old Slovenian couldn\u2019t stop smiling before the ball was tipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome home, Luka!\u201d Danny Andino, a Mavericks fan who was celebrating his 46th birthday, shouted during pregame warmups.<\/p>\n
Andino was wearing Don\u010di\u010d\u2019s No. 77 Mavericks jersey. His 8-year-old son, Kruz, wore Cooper Flagg\u2019s No. 32 Mavericks top.<\/p>\n
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\n Danny Andino and his 8-year-old son, Kruz, were among the many fans who showed up to American Airlines Center in icy weather conditions to see Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s return to Dallas. (Christian Clark \/ The Athletic)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still miss Luka,\u201d said Andino, who drove an hour and a half from Argyle, Texas, to get to the game. \u201cWe are still holding out hope he might come back. We do love Cooper Flagg and the Cooper Flagg era; we just wish it could be the Luka and Cooper Flagg era.\u201d<\/p>\n
Per usual, Flagg made an all-around impact, tallying 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists, though it was not his most efficient shooting night. The Lakers dared him to take jumpers, and he made 7 of 20 from the floor, including 1 of 5 from behind the 3-point arc.<\/p>\n
One of the few mistakes Don\u010di\u0107 made all night, however, came at the beginning of halftime. Don\u010di\u0107 took a few steps toward the tunnel that Mavericks players travel through to get to their locker room. By the time he was on the baseline, Don\u010di\u0107 realized he needed to head the opposite way to reach the Lakers\u2019 locker room, so he doubled back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was here seven years,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 said. \u201cA lot of things happened, bad and good. I kinda describe it (like) when I went to Madrid (to play professionally) when I was 13. Every time I went back to Slovenia, I felt good. That\u2019s why it\u2019s always going to be a special place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mavericks held a 15-point lead with 7:41 remaining but were unable to hang on. They were outscored by the Lakers 29-8 the rest of the way to put an end to Dallas\u2019 four-game winning streak and improve their record against the Mavericks to 4-0 since last February\u2019s trade.<\/p>\n
Don\u010di\u0107 scored nine points in the final quarter, including a running layup with 50.1 seconds remaining<\/a> that increased the Lakers\u2019 lead to eight points.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we did as good of a job as we could have,\u201d said Mavericks (and former Lakers) guard Max Christie, who scored 24 points against his former team. \u201cObviously, (Luka) is going to get his numbers every time. He was all over the game. But for the most part, we wanted to make him drive, get him off that 3-point line. He hit a couple in that first quarter. He was passing it really well. He got to the free-throw line a little too much for us, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n During one of Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s trips to the free-throw line, four Mavericks fans held up a sign that said, \u201cCOME HOME.\u201d<\/p>\n Mavs Fans will always have love for Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com\/rE4l3RCuRo<\/a><\/p>\n