đ LUKA. LAKERS. MAVS. CINEMA.
- The Daily Stump
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 4
What to know: Itâs been three and a half weeks since the trade that shook the NBA universe. Today we got to see friends become foes, and it was an absolute masterpiece.
The only thing this one was missing yesterday was Dallas at full health, other than that it had a little bit of everything. It had some pre-game scenes of Luka warming up on the court while Mavs GM Nico Harrison was also in attendance. It had storylines out of the wazoo as well! Not only was this a Luka return, but it was an AD return (inactive but still in the building), it was a Max Christie return, it was another edition of LeBron vs Kyrie, as well as LeBron vs Klay, and we also got to see Jason Kidd try and scheme up defenses against his former superstar.
After the nerves seemed to subside midway through the first, Luka hit back-to-back threes, the second of which warranted a HEALTHY staredown somewhere on the Mavs bench (or maybe a few rows above itâŠ). Luka was vintage Luka this game, ending with a triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists). LeBron tacked on 27 and Austin Reeves added 20 of his own. This is one of the best offensive big threes in the league. Austin Reeves is averaging the quietest 19 points in the league!
The Lakers seemed to almost pull away a few times, but it was the veterans in Dallas who wouldnât let that happen. Kyrie had a game-high 35 points, and after a quiet 6-point first half, Klay Thompson ended up with 22 of his own!
With just under three minutes to go, this was down to a one-possession game. The Lakers would end up getting the win, 107-99. Itâs not a matter of if, but just a matter of when this team will be an absolute juggernaut once AD, Gafford, and Lively all come back. Those will be trees that wonât be contained!
Luka and the Lakers won the battle, but that by no means is all this will be. This will be a multi-season, maybe even multi-decade WAR.
It will not be decided based on playoff wins, accolades, or stats. It will be based solely on one thing.
Championships!
Episode 1 of this clash was great, canât wait to do it again in 6 weeks when they do it in Dallas!
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