Dončić leads Lakers past Dallas, Jokić and Giannis narrowly miss triple-doubles

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

Nico Harrison was recently fired after trading Dončić last February, and in the first matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers since Harrison leaving, the Slovenian star delivered.

Arriving at Crypto.com Arena in a Bugatti W16 Mistral reportedly worth around $5 million, Dončić put on a show, recording a strong double-double to lead the Lakers to a 129–119 win.

He finished with 35 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds, while Austin Reaves topped the scoring for the Lakers with 38.

Since the trade, Dončić has faced the Mavericks three times—and won all three—improving to 3–0 against his former team.

While Dončić celebrated another victory, Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets fell to the San Antonio Spurs, 136–139, despite the Serbian center coming just one rebound shy of a triple-double.

Jokić posted 21 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists on 7-of-10 shooting, while Jamal Murray added 37 points. Still, it wasn’t enough against the Spurs, who controlled the second half behind Devin Vassell’s 35 points in the absence of Victor Wembanyama.

Therefore, Spurs are set to meet Luka and the Lakers in NBA Cup Quarterfinals.

Similarly to Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo came close to a triple-double but still ended up on the losing side, as the New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 118–109 at Madison Square Garden.

Returning from injury, Antetokounmpo posted 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists on 10-of-14 shooting, but it wasn’t enough. Jalen Brunson powered the Knicks with 37 points.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 112-109 on the road, led by Franz Wagner’s 21 points and seven rebounds. Rookie Tristan da Silva added eight points and three boards.

The Utah Jazz earned a 128-119 win over the Sacramento Kings, with Lauri Markkanen posting 28 points and seven rebounds.

Jusuf Nurkić flirted with a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, while Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk chipped in nine points for Utah. Maxime Raynaud stood out for the Kings with 19 points.

NBA Cup Quarterfinals:

Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns (10/12)
Los Angeles Lakers – San Antonio Spurs (10/12)
Orlando Magic – Miami Heat (9/12)
Toronto Raptors – New York Knicks (9/12)

NBA results and standings:

Atlanta Hawks – Cleveland Cavaliers 130-123
Brooklyn Nets – Philadelphia 76ers 103-115
Charlotte Hornets – Chicago Bulls 123-116
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 109-112
Indiana Pacers – Washington Wizards 119-86
New York Knicks – Milwaukee Bucks 118-109
Denver Nuggets – San Antonio Spurs 136-139
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 123-119
Utah Jazz – Sacramento Kings 128-119
LA Lakers – Dallas Mavericks 129-119
LA Clippers – Memphis Grizzlies 107-112

Western Conference

1. 1, Oklahoma City Thunder 19–1
2. Los Angeles Lakers 14–4
3. Houston Rockets 12–4
4. Denver Nuggets 13–5
5. San Antonio Spurs 13–5
6. Phoenix Suns 12–8
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 10–8
8. Golden State Warriors 10–10
9. Portland Trail Blazers 8–11
10. Memphis Grizzlies 8–12
11. Utah Jazz 6–12
12. Los Angeles Clippers 5–14
13. Dallas Mavericks 5–15
14. Sacramento Kings 5–15
15. New Orleans Pelicans 3–16

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons 15–4
2. Toronto Raptors 14–5
3. Miami Heat 13–6
4. New York Knicks 12–6
5. Orlando Magic 12–8
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 12–8
7. Atlanta Hawks 12–8
8. Boston Celtics 10–8
9. Philadelphia 76ers 10–8
10. Chicago Bulls 9–9
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8–12
12. Charlotte Hornets 5–14
13. Brooklyn Nets 3–15
14. Indiana Pacers 3–16
15. Washington Wizards 2–16