Mavericks Prepare for First Matchup Against Luka Dončić with Lakers: “He’s Our Brother”
After their 126-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks quickly shifted their attention to the upcoming road game against Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
The game represents a pivotal moment for the Mavericks, having traded Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Lakers on Feb. 2 in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round draft pick. As they take on the Lakers, all eyes will be on their former superstar in Los Angeles for the first time.
P.J. Washington holds high expectations for the game against Dončić, who averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists before being traded by Dallas.
“I expect him to bring his ‘A’ game knowing the player that he is and the mentality that he brings to the game,” Washington said. “I know he’s going to be ready as soon as we get out there. Obviously, we can’t wait to compete against him.”
Kyrie Irving, who has played alongside LeBron James in the past, acknowledged the talent on the floor when the Mavericks face the Lakers. However, with all eyes on Dončić, Irving focused on maintaining the team’s concentration.
“Outside of just the obvious of us being in LA and (the Mavs) being a former team of Luka’s, obviously, the narrative is already written,” Irving said. “I don’t know what else I can really add to that. I’m pretty much focused and telling my guys just to focus on a high-level game that we got to win.”
Washington may be tasked with guarding Dončić during the game, a challenge that he’s no stranger to, having practiced against Dončić before. Despite knowing the difficulty of slowing down his former teammate, Washington remained determined.
“Yeah, but at the end of the day, it’s Luka, and we know how good he is,” Washington said. “Everybody knows how good he is. He’s tough to contain, tough to slow down. But we’re just going to have to go out there and give it our best shot, and hopefully, we’ll come out with a W.”
There will be a few regular-season games in NBA history that will draw as much attention as Dončić’s first matchup against the Mavericks, within weeks of being shockingly traded by them. Irving understands the situation.
“I would love to get into the emotions after the game with you, but before the game, it’s just about having fun and making sure that we lock in and have a deep focus,” Irving said. “They’re going to come in and be ready to play against us. Luka obviously is going to have a lot of confidence that game. He played last game, so he’s feeling good. We just got to be aware of it.”
Washington echoed those sentiments and expressed excitement about playing against Dončić for the first time since the trade.
“We miss him, but at the end of the day, he’s our brother, and obviously, we’re always going to love him,” Washington said. “We just got to go out there and compete against him. It’s going to be a great game. I’m excited, and I think everybody is excited to go out there and play against him for the first time. Obviously, I haven’t seen him since the trade, so I think it’s going to be a big game for us, and everybody is excited.”
The Mavericks will look to give their best effort in the game, but as Washington and Irving noted, Dončić will surely be ready for the challenge. This is set to be a thrilling matchup with much at stake.
The game will tip off at 9 p.m. CST at Crypto.com Arena.
