- Lakers Edge Mavs: Los Angeles moved to 27-17 with a gritty 116-110 win over Dallas.
- The Missing Piece: Anthony Davis sat out for the Mavericks due to a finger injury, delaying his highly-anticipated “revenge” game.
- End of an Era: Despite the win, LeBron James saw his 21-year All-Star starter streak end this week, though his 2026 production remains elite.
DALLAS, TX — LeBron James isn’t ready to hand over the keys to the league just yet. On Saturday night, the 41-year-old icon and his superstar partner Luka Doncic took over the American Airlines Center, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-110 victory over a depleted Dallas Mavericks squad. Even with a hostile crowd and the emotional weight of a shifting NBA landscape, the Lakers’ star power proved too heavy for the Mavs to lift.
Doncic Carves the Defense; LeBron Defies Time
The Lakers’ offense worked with surgical precision. Luka Doncic, returning to the arena where his career began, didn’t show any sentimentality. He manipulated the pick-and-roll all night, hunting mismatches and finding LeBron James for thunderous transition finishes that looked more like 2016 than 2026. The duo combined for 55 points, effectively neutralizing a late-game surge from Dallas rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks struggled to protect the rim without Anthony Davis. AD, who joined Dallas in a move that shook the league, was ruled out hours before tip-off with a left finger sprain. Without his shot-blocking presence, the Lakers pounded the paint, outscoring Dallas 54-40 in the restricted area. Dallas kept the game within one possession late in the fourth quarter, but a step-back three from Doncic with 42 seconds left iced the contest.
Game Summary: Jan 24, 2026
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | 29 | 32 | 25 | 30 | 116 |
| Mavericks | 24 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 110 |
What They Said
“It’s always special coming back here. But when the ball goes up, it’s about the work. LeBron and I are finding a rhythm that is getting harder and harder for teams to break.” — Luka Doncic, Post-game Presser
“The All-Star streak? It’s whatever. My job is to win championships, not popularity contests. If you think I’m slowing down, check the scoreboard.” — LeBron James on losing his All-Star starter spot
Playoff Race & The Road Ahead
This win pushes the Lakers to 27-17, keeping them within striking distance of the top seed in the Pacific Division. For the Mavericks, the loss is a blow to their play-in positioning. With Kyrie Irving out for the season and Anthony Davis potentially sidelined until the All-Star break, the pressure on Cooper Flagg to carry the load is immense. The Lakers head home to face the Raptors next, while Dallas must find answers before their season slip-slides out of reach.
