NBA: Doncic and Reaves outshine Davis on LA return as Lakers beat Mavericks

Almost four weeks had passed since Anthony Davis last stepped on the court for the Dallas Mavericks, and his return came at the perfect time, against his former side, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Head coach JJ Redick had said before tip-off that the team planned to give the 10-time All-Star the “requisite level of attention,” and from the opening possession it was clear they meant it. Each time Davis received the ball, the Lakers immediately sent extra help to crowd him.

Back in the lineup for the first time since October 29 after nursing a left calf strain, Davis finished the night with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

He shot 6-for-10 and played 28 minutes, slightly above the limit the staff had set for him. Despite the solid efficiency, he never reached the free-throw line in the Dallas Mavericks’ 129-119 defeat.

The Lakers faithful made their appreciation known long before the opening whistle, greeting Davis with a warm ovation when his name echoed through the arena.

This was his first game at Crypto.com Arena since the February 2 mega-trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles and moved Davis to Dallas in a deal that stunned the NBA.

Doncic, facing his former team, continued the kind of form fans have come to expect from him – 35 points, 11 assists, and total command of the offense.

But Austin Reaves was the standout performer statistically, erupting for 38 points on just 15 shot attempts. After the final buzzer, he exchanged jerseys with Davis in a show of respect.

Reaves made his feelings clear afterward, saying “He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball,” before adding how much Davis’ guidance meant to him earlier in his career. “I don’t know why he wanted my jersey, but for me to get his, it’s pretty fun… I got a lot of love for AD. He’s a big reason that [I am] where I’m at right now. From day one, he was telling me to be myself, don’t be anybody else. Continue to work and really, just be myself on the court. So I owe him a lot.”

Dallas, meanwhile, continue to struggle with Davis’ availability. A series of injuries have limited him to only a handful of appearances since the trade, contributing to turbulence within the organisation – including the recent dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison. The Mavericks plan to remain cautious, ruling Davis out of Saturday’s meeting with the Clippers.

Watching from the sideline was difficult, he admitted. “Any time you’re sitting down and you see these guys, especially in close games, you wish you could be out there,” he said postgame.

“As one of the leaders, you want to go out there. It’s a competitive nature to go out and help these guys, but now I have opportunity to do that.”