Luka Doncic wanted to show them what they are missing and to get a much-needed win for his team. He did that. Doncic scored 45 points — 31 in the first half — and behind some fourth quarter help from Lebron James he got the win, 112-97.

But the Lakers securing the third seed gives Doncic the best positioning he's ever had going into the playoffs. In six years with the Mavericks, his team only held homecourt advantage once in 2022 against the Utah Jazz when the Mavs were the 4th seed, but he was hurt for most of that series.

The big story heading into the Los Angeles Lakers - Dallas Mavericks clash last Wednesday was Luka Doncic 's first game in Dallas since being traded last February. The day after the showdown, though, the Slovenian star went viral again for his actions.