Luka Doncic hit tying 3-pointers in the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime, finishing with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the Dallas Mavericks’ 119-115 double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Doncic highlighted his 56th career triple-double with that pair of clutch 3-pointers, while Christian Wood added 24 points and 14 rebounds in the Mavs’ fourth straight win over the Lakers. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points and eight rebounds for Dallas, and Spencer Dinwiddie scored twice in a late 6-0 run to put it away in double OT.
Russell Westbrook scored a season-high 28 points and LeBron James had 24 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who have lost two straight after a five-game winning streak. Los Angeles rallied all the way back from a 19-point regulation deficit and got to the brink of an unlikely win, but couldn’t match Doncic’s dramatic flair.
The Lakers took a lead on Dennis Schröder’s layup with 1:31 left in regulation before Westbrook made two free throws with 11.8 seconds left for a 101-98 advantage. Doncic calmly moved past a perimeter screen and drilled a tying 3-pointer for his first field goal of the fourth quarter with six seconds left.
Troy Brown missed a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer, failing to get a foul call on what appeared to be clear contact from Hardaway.
James hit two free throws to put the Lakers up 108-105 late in the first overtime, but Doncic hit another tying 3-pointer with 47.8 seconds left. Wood blocked James’ layup attempt shortly before the buzzer.
Doncic then hit the go-ahead layup midway through the second overtime. The Lakers missed four of their final five shots and committed an offensive foul in the final two minutes.
James returned from a one-game absence with a sore left ankle and mostly looked sharp, but the Lakers were still short-handed without Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker, Austin Reaves and Patrick Beverley. The injuries forced coach Darvin Ham to use his 23rd different starting lineup in 42 games this season, with rookie second-round pick Max Christie making his second career start.
Dallas had an early 19-point lead, but the Lakers tied it early in the fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Dwight Powell played 18 minutes despite a bruised right hip from Tuesday’s game against the Clippers. … Dorian Finney-Smith missed his 12th straight game with a right adductor strain. … Maxi Kleber remained out with a torn right hamstring that has sidelined him for a full month. … Davis Bertans got a technical foul from the bench in the second quarter for his apparently overzealous celebration of a layup by Wood.
Lakers: Brown returned from a three-game absence with a strained right quadriceps and scored eight points in 38 minutes. … Beverley was declared out early in the day with a non-COVID illness.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: At Portland on Saturday.
Lakers: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.
