When the NBA scheduled a preseason matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas, it was expected to bring another emotional meeting between Luka Dončić and the team where his NBA journey began.
The next reunion will have to wait.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick announced Wednesday morning that Dončić will not play in the preseason finale at T-Mobile Arena, citing rest and workload management. The Lakers will have just 10 available players, with Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Bronny James (ankle sprain) also ruled out.
The decision reflects the organization’s cautious approach after Dončić’s heavy summer workload with Slovenia in EuroBasket. Redick and the Lakers’ medical staff have prioritized long-term health and conditioning over preseason appearances, keeping their star guard fresh for opening night.
Even with his absence, Dončić’s connection to Dallas remains a central storyline of the night.
“I’ll always feel something when I play against Dallas,” Dončić said after his preseason debut Tuesday in Phoenix. “That’s the team that drafted me, the city where I grew up as a player, and a lot of people there mean a lot to me. Those memories don’t go away.”
Luka Dončić’s History Against the Dallas Mavericks
Since being traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2024–25 season, Dončić has faced the Mavericks twice, and both games carried emotional weight.
In his first meeting on Feb. 25, 2025, Dončić posted a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 107–99 Lakers win. He shared hugs and handshakes with several former teammates and coaches after the game.
When the Lakers visited Dallas on April 9, Dončić delivered one of his best performances of the season, scoring 45 points with seven made 3-pointers in a 112–97 victory. The night was filled with a mix of applause and boos as he walked off the floor smiling.
“I had so many great moments there,” Dončić said. “It’s always going to be special.”
Dallas Mavericks Prepare for Full Tune-Up
While Dončić and several Lakers stars sit out, the Mavericks are treating Wednesday’s matchup as a full-scale dress rehearsal before the regular season. Head coach Jason Kidd said he plans to extend his starters’ minutes deeper into the game to simulate regular-season rotations.
“Everybody’s minutes will go up tomorrow,” Kidd said Tuesday. “Going into this being our last preseason game, we’ll try to get those guys extended minutes. Things were going well for AD, and we were looking to maybe get him into the fourth. Tomorrow, we’ll probably get everyone trending toward that fourth quarter.”
Anthony Davis, who leads Dallas in preseason scoring (14.7 points per game) and blocks (5.7), continues to anchor a starting lineup alongside Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. Kidd praised Davis’ play at center in the team’s recent win over Utah.
“That first group was really good on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “The pace was good, and defensively, to have a rating of 99 was really good. AD at the five was a nice look—we hadn’t really looked at that yet. It looked promising.”
Looking Ahead
Even without Dončić on the floor, the emotional storyline between the Lakers and Mavericks lingers. Dallas will travel to Los Angeles on Nov. 28 for their first regular-season meeting before Dončić returns to Dallas on Jan. 24 and April 5.
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