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Dave Mcmenamin
Los Angeles-after that Luka Doncic took the Lakers to a 107-99 victory over their former team on Tuesday, becoming the third player to register a triple double against each NBA franchise in the process: the guard’s tone star during his game after his game. The press conference was not triumphant.
No, Doncic sounded more relieved than anything else.
“There were many emotions and they didn’t sleep much,” he said about the game that arrived only 3½ weeks after he was changed from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers. “I can’t even explain [it]. It was a different game. … Sometimes I don’t know what I was doing.
“And I’m glad it’s over, honestly.”
Doncic, who had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists to join his teammate LeBron James and the Denver Nuggets guard, Russell Westbrook, as the only players who put a triple double against the 30 teams, did not dominate Dallas . He shot 6 of 17 from the field (1 of 7 of 3), and it was James who scored 16 of his 27 points in 7 of 9 shots in the last quarter to seal the victory.
But Doncic went through a night that had been advanced since Dallas changed it, an emotional obstacle while processing to be close not only of his former teammates, with whom he has maintained friendships, but also the brass of the Mavericks in the Nico General Manager Harrison and coach Jason Niño
“It will definitely help me,” Doncic said about leaving the game behind. “It will definitely help in the length [run]”
Harrison stood out on the middle of the court during the warm -up prior to the game, although Doncic said he did not notice.
He certainly saw the Bank of the Mavericks, directing several shouts and looks after making plays for his new team.
“Obviously, there is a lot of emotion when you give a franchise a lot and sacrifice for a franchise and you have that kind of love and respect for a franchise, throughout all trips,” James said about Doncic. “They went to the final, all that. He has grown up to be a child of 18, 19 years to a 25 -year -old man with a family … and when you continue or continue from you, he is very emotional, obviously.
“They are probably many things that were happening in their heads that probably did not even involve the game itself. And with that, I thought he handled it greatly.”
The Guard of the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, who led all the scorers with 35 points, said that the confrontation was “uncomfortable as S —” after facing the same player with whom he joined to take Dallas to the final Last season.
“But,” Irving added, “at the same time, it was fun. We had the opportunity to feel that we were in the practice again going to each other. That was a good point of reflection. And then seeing the crowd encourage For him and just start it … it was fun to compete. “
Doncic called Irving his “brother” and said that his relationship goes “far beyond basketball.”
The teams will play again in Dallas on April 9. Returning to your old house will bring different challenges for maiden, emotional and other. The Mavericks expect Anthony Davis, sent from Los Angeles to Dallas in the agreement, has recovered from the tension of the left adductor he suffered after the exchange and can play.
The Lakers coach JJ Redick said he had not felt the circumstances presented by the schedule. As strange as Tuesday went to Doncic, the Lakers players had to deal with the conflicting emotions of seeing Davis back in the building and receiving an ovation standing in the first quarter when the angels played a video tribute and then striving to send it to send it. With a loss. The same was to have to coincide with Max Christie, also part of the trade. He had 10 points and six assists for Dallas and played with the same effort and athletics that used to be on the side of the Lakers.
“You just have to hug him,” said Redick. “It’s a bit strange. It is simply … it is healthy, in reality, just to recognize and hug it. And then you play the game, and then you never have to do that again.”
Or at least the next time Doncic and the Lakers must play the Mavericks, they will have had more time to establish a new normality.
“The closure will take time, I think,” said Doncic. “It’s not ideal. But as I said, I’m glad this game is over. There were many emotions. But we are gradually and every day is better.”
Tim Macmahon from ESPN contributed to this report.
