Luka Dončić’s potential revenge game is finally here as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena.
It had been three weeks since Dallas sent Dončić to Los Angeles in a trade that featured Anthony Davis and Max Christie.
It will be the first time Dončić has played against his former team since the Feb. 2 trade that shocked the world.
So how did Dončić and his former Dallas teammates react to seeing each other again?
Luka Doncic greets Mavericks stars before tipoff
The Slovenian basketball player remained focused throughout the pregame warmups and had little interaction with members of the Mavericks organization.
In the final moments before tip-off, Dončić was seen at midcourt smiling and hugging various Mavs starters before getting briefly tangled up with former teammate Kyrie Irving as the two jockeyed for position.
Irving and Dončić helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024.
How is Doncic doing against the Mavericks?
Dončić did not hold back his emotions throughout the first quarter.
After picking up a technical in the opening minutes of the game arguing a non-call, Dončić rattled off five consecutive points, capped by a 29-foot 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 16-14 lead over the Mavericks.
Dončić immediately turned toward his former teammates and stared down the Mavericks bench after the shot.
Dončić knocked down another 3 during the stretch, but replay review showed that his foot narrowly stepped out of bounds. The points were taken off the scoreboard.
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