Luka Doncic reacts to win over former team

The highly anticipated showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks took center stage on Tuesday night, marking Luka Doncic’s first meeting with his former team since the blockbuster trade involving Anthony Davis that shook the NBA earlier in February.

The night belonged to Doncic and the Lakers, who secured a 107-99 victory, extending their winning streak to three games while handing the Mavericks their second consecutive loss. Dallas had been in good form following the trade, but the Lakers proved too much to handle.

The 25-year-old Doncic appeared in high spirits pregame, sharing a moment with former teammate Kyrie Irving. But when the ball tipped, he was all business. The Slovenian superstar recorded his third triple-double of the season—and his first in a Lakers uniform—finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. 

Though he struggled from the field, shooting just 6-of-17 and connecting on only one three-pointer, he made his presence felt on both ends, adding three steals and two blocks. In total, Doncic was responsible for 51 of the Lakers' 107 points through scoring and playmaking.

More important than individual stats, however, was the result. The game is behind him, the win is in the books and the 6-foot-6 guard is ready to move forward. Speaking to the NBA on TNT crew postgame, he admitted the emotions of the night were difficult to put into words.

“I don’t know how to explain it," Doncic said. I think in the first quarter, second quarter, I didn’t know what was happening. It was just different. I can’t even explain how I felt. I couldn’t make nothing today, I’m just glad we got a win…I can’t wait to go to sleep, honestly. I’m exhausted.”

Doncic’s trade from Dallas was met with widespread speculation, particularly surrounding concerns about his conditioning and the Mavericks’ long-term vision. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a source close to the five-time All-Star said those rumors ignited something within him—stating that "a beast was awakened inside”.

While his Lakers tenure started unevenly, Doncic has now strung together back-to-back standout performances, including a 32-point effort in a road win over the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 23. If the past two games are any indication, the “beast” has indeed awakened. That’s great news for the Lakers—and a warning to the rest of the league.