The NBA world was turned the wrong way up Feb. 2 when the Dallas Mavericks traded five-time All-Star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a future choose.
The deal despatched shockwaves by way of the league resulting in on-going discourse concerning the repercussions of the deal in Dallas and what the long run now holds for the Lakers, one of the vital embellished franchises within the league historical past. The ire from Mavericks fans erupted after the franchise questioned the conditioning and dedication of their former famous person on his technique to Los Angeles and Davis picked up one other lengthy stay on the IR halfway by way of his first recreation in Dallas.
Within the three weeks because the commerce, the Mavericks have gone 5-4 and maintained a strong maintain within the Western Convention’s play-in match regardless of a run of impactful accidents. Kyrie Irving averaged 27.7 factors throughout that stretch as the brand new look Dallas roster makes an attempt to navigate the post-Luka world.
In the meantime, the Lakers are just 2-2 in games when Doncic plays. He is averaged 19.0 factors over that span however appeared to show a nook on Saturday with a 32 level, 10 rebound and 7 help efficiency in opposition to the Denver Nuggets in a 123-100 win. A calf harm had sidelined Doncic for almost six weeks (22 video games) previous to the commerce and the Los Angeles workers has stored an eye fixed on his well being as he will get again into taking part in form with a model new franchise. He is averaging 26.7, 8.5 rebounds and seven.5 assists per recreation this season.
The Lakers host the Mavericks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET) within the groups’ first recreation because the commerce that despatched Luka to Los Angeles.
ESPN Insiders Dave McMenamin and Tim MacMahon might be maintaining tabs on all of the updates inside the sector within the construct as much as the sport in our dwell weblog whereas Tim Bontemps and Chris Herring will present evaluation from this extremely anticipated Western Convention conflict.
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Luka and LeBron mix for 57 in Lakers’ rout of Nuggets
Luka Doncic drops 32 factors and LeBron James provides 25 because the Lakers take down the Nuggets.
