Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
JJ Redick said he was incredibly impressed with how Luka was able to live in the highly emotional moment before the game, and then still go out and be an absolute killer. – 10:16 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic on ESPN, introspective, as we’ve rarely heard him:
“When I was watching that video I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game.’” – 10:10 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic on ESPN, introspective, as we’ve rarely heard him:
“When I was watching that video I was like, “There’s no way I’m playing this game.” – 10:08 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Luka scored a season-high 45 points in his emotional return to Dallas. He began the game in tears during a tribute video, and ended it with both Mavericks fans and LeBron James chanting “Lu-ka.” – 10:05 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers clinch a playoff berth with a 112-97 win in Dallas. Luka Doncic met the moment, tying a season high with 45 points. One more win in L.A.’s final two regular season games — home Friday vs. HOU or on the road Sunday in POR — will secure the No. 3 seed in the West. – 10:04 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka finishes with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. Lakers roll over the Mavericks late for a 112-97 win. Mavericks now 38-42 and will almost certainly play at Sacramento next Wednesday in the play-in opener. – 10:03 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Final: Lakers 112, Mavericks 97.
Luka Doncic finished with 45 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in his first game back in Dallas.
LeBron James: 27 points, 7 seven rebounds.
LAL (49-31) clinch a playoff spot (top-6 seed) in the West. – 10:03 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
The Mavs lost to the Lakers in Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas, which means the Suns are still technically alive in the play-in hunt. A loss to OKC tonight would mean elimination – 10:03 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
An impressive 3-game trip for the Lakers:
– Blow out OKC 126-99
– Lose in the rematch at OKC, after leading by 1 when Doncic is ejected
– Beat Dallas in an emotional return for Doncic – 10:01 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Luka getting a standing ovation from the Dallas crowd for putting the finishing touches on the Mavericks is the ultimate “Fire Nico!!!” chant. AK – 9:58 PM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
I have to give it to Luka. Dealing with the emotions and still having the Killer mentality to go out there give boys that work was something Special to witness tonight – 9:57 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Luka Doncic just buried a deep 3, and then a baseline 2 to reach 45 points, securing the victory for the Lakers (up 110-94 with 1:35 to play).
The appreciative Mavericks fans gave him a standing ovation during a time out, and chanted his name. – 9:57 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Huge cheers now for Luka as the Lakers take a commanding 110-94 lead with 1:35 left.
The chants of “Luka” are clear and and the Lakers are egging it on – 9:56 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Not sure how Luka made that reverse layup high off the glass with all kinds of English, but it got him to 40 points and put LA up 12. – 9:52 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
It’s been months since the Luka Doncic trade and I still can’t believe it happened. 20 years from now I’ll wake up one morning and randomly think of the Luka Doncic trade and it STILL won’t make sense. The most stupefyingly stupid trade I’ve ever seen in any sport – 9:52 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks in a tough spot now, down 101-93 with 4:42 left. LeBron James has done the damage in the second half after Luka did so in the first. – 9:46 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Opponents with more than 30 points in a first half at Dallas, last 25 years:
32 – Jamal Murray, Denver, 1/14/25
31 – Stephen Jackson, Atlanta, 3/17/04
31 – Luka Doncic, L.A. Lakers, 4/9/25 – 8:46 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Halftime: Lakers 60, Mavericks 57.
Luka Doncic scored over half of LAL’s points in the opening two quarters of his return to Dallas, recording 31 points (11-16 shooting, 6-8 on 3s) to go with 3 assists and 3 rebounds. – 8:42 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
We have the makings of a pretty epic night here:
Luka Doncic is up to 31 pts already on 11-for-16 shooting (6-for-8 from 3).
The Lakers are up 60-57 at the break. – 8:40 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Luka Doncic’s first half in his return to Dallas:
– 31 points
– 11 of 16 FG’s
– 4 buckets at the rim
– 6 of 8 3’s
– 3 of 6 FT’s
– 3 assists
– 3 boards
– 3 steals – 8:40 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
The Martin 2-pointer at the end of the shot clock was ruled to be late subsequently, so LA get 2 points back on the scoreboard.
They lead 53-47 after Doncic split FT’s. – 8:34 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Doncic is halfway to half-a-hundred adn the Lakers lead 52-49 with 3:26 left in the first half. – 8:32 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With all of the emotion in the building directed around him, Luka Doncic has been brilliant, up to 22 points on 8 of 12 FG’s with 4 triples, 3 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals in 14 minutes.
LA lead 49-45. – 8:28 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Doncic twice got to the rim and finished to reach 18 points in his 11 minutes, using a great screen from DFS for the second bucket.
That capped a 6-0 push to tie the game at 40 with 7:24 left in the 2nd Q. – 8:23 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Dorian Finney-Smith with Gortat screens on back-to-back Luka Doncic layups to tie Lakers-Mavericks at 40 apiece.
Doncic is up to 18 points on 7-11 shooting (3-5 on 3s) midway through the 2Q. – 8:23 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Luka stepped on the floor for his pregame shooting session, massive cheers. When he left… massive cheers
He’s gonna be cheered every time he dribbles the ball tonight – 6:47 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
JJ Redick on his message to the team tonight: “We’ve got your back.”
Of course he’s referring to Doncic in his first game back in Dallas. – 6:05 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Luka Doncic’s (LAL) technical foul at 7:40 of the 4th quarter on 4/8/25 (vs. OKC) has been rescinded upon league office review. – 5:10 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The NBA has notified the Lakers that it has rescinded the second technical foul on Luka Doncic from Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told ESPN. – 5:04 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki will be in attendance for Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas tonight.
It will be the second NBA game that Dirk has attended since the trade. The other was Luka’s Lakers debut. – 4:53 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
“I know it will be an emotional game just because Luka is coming back & everybody in Dallas still loves him. So, it’ll be good to see Dallas give him a tribute and everything he deserves just like L.A. gave me when I was there,” Mavs forward Anthony Davis bit.ly/43xEcmO – 10:23 AM

Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
The radio show is live on the @InfSportsNet from 10-noon ET: Malone fired, NBA’s upside-down, Luka goes back, Start/Bench/Cut, @PrettyDaddyRTY not-so-long goodbye, @MattSnyderCBS, Buy or Sell, Steelers & Shedeur, more.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@Audacy app
@SIRIUSXM 375 – 9:59 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
From last night: Luka Doncic was ejected, a decision the Lakers felt “seemed a little personal” from the referee, marring a tightly contested game in OKC ahead of Luka’s Dallas return bit.ly/42EbwaQ – 9:50 AM

David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
Luka Dončić returns to Dallas tonight for the first time since the infamous trade. We know why GM Nico Harrison made the deal, but less about how Dončić’s top remaining ally in the building, ex-majority owner Mark Cuban, lost his sway. In @TheAthletic:
nytimes.com/athletic/62651… – 9:00 AM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
When the Mavericks left for their longest road trip of the season, they wanted Luka Dončić to join them and rehab around the team, sources said. Dončić chose to remain in Dallas. Midway through the trip, he was traded.
How we got here, @TheAthleticNBA: nytimes.com/athletic/62651… – 8:45 AM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Lakers-Thunder was setting up for a potentially dramatic finish between two of the best teams in the West before Luka Doncic’s ejection.
“It was a great game that unfortunately didn’t get to finish out the way that every basketball fan would want..”
ocregister.com/2025/04/08/lak… – 1:38 AM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
a truly shocking day in the nba. michael malone fired with a week left in the season, luka ejected from one of the best games of the year because he got baited by a fan, and bismack biyombo just attempted a left-handed skyhook from the free throw line. – 12:01 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Luka Doncic on returning to Dallas: “I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t know how I’m going to feel, honestly. I’m looking forward to being back in Dallas, obviously, with the fans, seeing my teammates — ex-teammates. It’s going to be very emotional for me, for sure.” – 11:56 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Doncic, understandably frustrated with the ejection and the loss, nonetheless summarized the 2-game set in OKC as such:
“I think we showed we can beat anybody when we lock in. It’s hard to win here. We showed what kind of team we are.” – 11:22 PM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Mark Daigneault said his understanding was Doncic was ejected for what he said to referee JT Orr. Daigneault says he always asks refs during games why technicals are assessed so he knows where the line is. – 11:07 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Mark Daigneault says the ref that gave Luka his 2nd tech gave Mark a tech earlier this season for a mild remark.
He says he’s sure whatever Doncic said was harsher [paraphrasing] and gives this ref crew credit for staying consistent.
“It was good to see him hold the line.” – 11:05 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Mark Daigneault on trusting Cason Wallace to defend Luka Doncic: “He’s a growing player. He’s still learning..
In these last couple games, we wanted to give other guys reps on other people…
That’s how you grow.” – 11:00 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The OKC Thunder fan Jeremy Price, who called himself “a.k.a. The Courtside Tattoo Dude,” said he engaged in trash talk with Luka Doncic before: “Absolutely. Last season, matter of fact, when he was a Maverick in the playoffs. But all within the game.” – 10:53 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
OKC fan Jeremy Price, who had the 4th Q exchange with Luka Doncic, to ESPN: “During the game within the game, I mentioned that he was short and he missed it and he turned around and he shot an explicative [sic] back and J.T. [Orr] happened to see it and that point, T’d him up.” – 10:51 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Unfortunate ending to this one for the Lakers, as Doncic got ejected with LA up 1 midway through the 4th and OKC took full advantage.
JJ Redick was disappointed with the ejection, naturally, but is overall encouraged with how his team played in these 2 games at OKC. – 10:41 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
“Apparently he said something to a fan. That’s all I can gather.” — JJ Redick when asked about the Luka Doncic ejection. – 10:37 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers take a 98-97 lead into the 4th Q. Luka 21p; LeBron 19p; AR 18p. Some really good minutes from Hayes and Vando tonight too so far. – 9:53 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Halftime: Thunder 80, Lakers 72.
LAL’s 3-point (15-26) and FT (13-15) shooting helped reduce the impact of their turnovers (12 for 20 OKC points).
Austin Reaves: 18p (6-8)/4a. Luka Doncic: 16p(5-8)/4a. Dorian Finney-Smith: 12p(4-4). LeBron James: 11p(2-7)/4r/3a. – 9:12 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
END OF 1Q: Lakers 43, Thunder 43. High-level offensive production from both teams. LAL shot 66.7% (14-21) and 69.2% (9-13) on 3s. OKC: 65.4% shooting (17-26) and 63.6% on 3s (7-11). Austin Reaves: 15p (3-4 on 3s). Luka Doncic: 11p/3a. Dorian Finney-Smith: 9p. Jordan Goodwin: 6p. – 8:39 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Luka Doncic is just an unreal playmaker. Yes, the Lakers are hot from 3 (80%) but you have to tip your cap at what Doncic is generating for them – 8:33 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Insane early shotmaking from both the Lakers and Thunder here in OKC. LAL’s shot 12-17 (7-9 on 3s), while the Thunder have shot 14-21 (6-10 on 3s).
Luka Doncic banks in an and-1 layup before the timeout. He’ll take a FT coming out the break, with LAL trailing 36-34. – 8:31 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Some incredible offense from both teams so far.
OKC: 14 for 21 (6 of 10 3’s)
LAL: 12 of 17 (7 of 9 3’s)
LA have a chance to pull within 1 on an and-1 FT from Doncic after the 2nd time out.
Thunder have a 5-0 edge on the offensive glass, and a 3-1 turnover advantage. – 8:29 PM