By scoring 45 points on Wednesday night, Luka Doncic hit this number in a Lakers jersey for the second time. The last time he scored 45, the Lakers sadly couldn’t win—but this time, Luka made sure they had the last laugh.
This 112-97 victory felt extra special for the Slovenian star, who finally returned to Dallas after a long time, where he spent six seasons. The emotions ran so high that the Lakers’ star literally broke down in tears.
The night began with a touching tribute at the American Airlines Center. A special video honored Luka Doncic’s six-and-a-half unforgettable seasons with the Mavericks. As the crowd cheered and applauded, Luka couldn’t hold back his emotions—he wiped away tears as memories filled the arena.
LUKA DROPPED A SEASON-HIGH 45 POINTS IN HIS RETURN TO DALLAS 😈 pic.twitter.com/lnLTFHASjP
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) April 10, 2025
But once the game started, Luka turned those emotions into fire. He showed no mercy on his former team. The LA star exploded with 31 points in the first half and finished with a stunning 45 points, shooting an impressive 57.1% from the field.
He knocked down 7 of his 10 three-point attempts and added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals—delivering a powerful all-around performance that left fans speechless.
LeBron James backed him up with 27 points, including 13 in a fiery fourth quarter. Rui Hachimura added 15 points off the bench. Together, their efforts locked in a crucial win for the Lakers, securing a top-six spot in the Western Conference playoffs and helping them skip the play-in tournament.
Luka Doncic reflects on emotional return to Dallas
In his return, the Mavericks showed Luka love by giving fans T-shirts that said “Hvala za vse,” which means “Thank you for everything” in Slovenian. While a tribute video played, Luka sat on the bench, wiping away tears as he thought about his time in Dallas.
Luka Doncic speaks on his legendary return to Dallas.
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 10, 2025
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/gxG8EN1F3K
After the game, Luka told ESPN, “I came here as a young kid at 18 (years old). I didn’t know what to expect from the NBA and they made me feel like home. Just a lot of great, great memories. I don’t know how I did it. Because when I watched that (tribute) video I was like: ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game’.”
