Lakers vs. Mavericks Preview and Game Thread: Luka Dončić returns to Dallas

On Wednesday, Luka Dončić will play in Dallas for the first time since being traded to the Lakers.

The Lakers are back at it on Wednesday, but this time in Dallas, where they play Anthony Davis and the Mavericks. This is also the first time Luka Dončić returns to his former city since the blockbuster trade.

Currently, both teams split the regular season series and will compete for the tiebreaker in this one.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks

When: 4:30 PDT, Apr 9

Where: American Airlines Center

Watch: ESPN, Spectrum SportsNet

Just when we thought the Lakers would sit most of their key players on Tuesday against the Thunder, LeBron James, Dončić and the rest suited up a couple of hours before game time. Unfortunately, that didn’t pay dividends, as L.A. snapped its two-game winning streak.

Still, splitting two against the Thunder was a job well done by the purple and gold. Now, all eyes will be on Luka’s impending return to the city that traded him this season.

Yes, one of the most highly anticipated games of the year is happening this Wednesday. Expect this one to be dramatic from start to finish.

Dončić’s return to Dallas is going to be extremely interesting. How is he going to perform? Will the Mavericks crowd, who so dearly loved their international superstar for seven years, welcome him back warmly? What’s the battle between these two teams going to be like?

The Mavericks, who are coming off two crucial losses to the L.A. Clippers, pretty much know their fate is sealed as a play-in team this postseason. Still, they should be motivated to win their last three games if they want to host a play-in tournament contest.

The Lakers haven’t clinched a playoff berth yet since they lost to the Thunder on Tuesday, so they need to win one more game to do just that.

They also need two more victories to clinch the third seed. So, this game against the Mavericks is important beyond Luka’s return. One thing the Lakers should be worried about is going up against Anthony Davis.

AD has said that he’s not going to feel much emotion facing the Lakers, but knowing him, it’s safe to assume he will go all out for this one.

He has to if the Mavericks want to win because the loss of Kyrie Irving has put a lot of pressure on Davis to carry both the offense and defense. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Lakers contain their former superstar.

Outside of Davis, the Lakers will also have to be ready for the huge lineups that Dallas will field on the court, particularly the interior presence of Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively II alongside AD.

Then there’s the fact that they’re surrounded by key offensive players like PJ Washington, Klay Thompson and our good old friend Max Christie.

Hopefully, the Lakers will keep up offensively despite having a rest disadvantage in this one.

But more than anything, this game will be about Luka and how he performs in his return to Dallas. Hopefully, it will lead to a victory, solidifying the Lakers’ spot in the playoffs.

Notes and Updates

• Since the Lakers played on the first night of a back-to-back, no injury report has yet been issued for this one. But obviously expect Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery recovery) to be out.
• As for the Mavs, Anthony Davis (left adductor strain) is probable.
• Dante Exum (left hand surgery) is noted as questionable but is expected to return against the Lakers after missing 11 games. Meanwhile, Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Oliver-Maxence Prosper (right wrist surgery) are out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.