A strong third quarter and a triple-double from LeBron James saw the Lakers head into the All-Star break on a high with a comfortable 124-104 win over the Mavs on Thursday.
LA won the third period 32-19 and the second half 60-41, blowing the game open and putting away a Dallas team all-too-happy to lose.
Both teams started perfectly from the field, each converting on their first two shots. The Lakers then scored 10 straight points to take a double-digit lead with LeBron James leading the way with eight
points. Naji Marshall stopped some of the bleeding for Dallas with a layup that sparked a 12-0 run to give them the lead.
Rui Hachimura had a good quarter for Los Angeles, scoring nine points.
Max Christie had a perfect quarter, going 3-3 from the field, helping keep the Mavericks momentum. LeBron’s dominant start continued as he was now up to 14 points. At the end of the first, the Lakers were up by five.
To start the second period, the Mavericks tied the game with a quick five points. LA was shooting a rough 23% from behind the arc. They were missing quite a few good looks. Jake LaRavia stepped up offensively, scoring seven points. Los Angeles built a 12-point lead thanks to a 13-2 scoring run.
Hachimura was the second Laker in double figures with 11 points.
Austin Reaves was having a great quarter to push his point total to 11 off the bench. The three ball was still a sour point for the Lakers as they were shooting 25%. LA once again allowed the Mavericks to go on a run, giving up 12 points.
As a result of the late surge, it was just a one-point lead for the purple and gold at halftime.
Marshall converted a three-point play to put Dallas ahead to start the third period. The Lakers then scored four straight to retake the lead. Both teams were battling hard, exchanging the lead back and forth. LA started putting cushion on their lead, forcing a timeout from the Mavericks.
Out of the break, Brandon Williams scored on a jumper for Dallas.
Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber both drained triples, helping put Los Angeles up by nine. Kleber also converted on a layup, giving him five much-needed points off the bench.
While he didn’t shoot much, Luke Kennard did grab seven rebounds, leading the team. He then knocked down a 3-pointer, his only long-distance make of the game.
At the end of the third, the Lakers were up by 14. When leading after the third period, they are 23-0 this season.
Los Angeles scored four straight to start the final frame. The lead had gone to 18 until LA started fouling Dallas, sending them to the free-throw line three times in a row. The Mavericks then returned the favor, fouling Reaves, who converted on the three-point play.
Reaves finally saw an attempt from behind the arc go in, and it helped put the Lakers up by 16 with 7:17 left in the quarter.
After what felt like 400 free throws between the team, Jaxson Hayes scored on a layup. Christie then dunked the ball on the other end. At the 3:18 mark, LA had a comfortable 16-point lead.
LeBron picked up his 10th rebound in the closing minutes, which secured his first triple-double of the season. It also made him the oldest player in Lakers history to record a triple-double, passing Karl Malone.
Hachimura also knocked down his third triple of the game. A slam by dunk contest participant Hayes put the finishing touches on the win, sealing the win and leading to the bench emptying for LA.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with his first triple-double of the season, notching 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Reaves ended with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists off the bench. Hachimura pitched in with 21 points, going 9-13 from the field and 3-4 from three.
LaRavia had 11 points with three rebounds. Hayes notched 16 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Marcus Smart scored nine points with two assists.
Kleber had five points off the bench. Vanderbilt scored five points with six rebounds and two steals. Kennard ended with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, February 20th, at 7:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
