What’s the buzz on Twitter?
LeBron on being there for Doncic as a team tonight: “Our only concern was to support him.” – 10:23 PM

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

Luka Dončić exits to a standing ovation in his return to Dallas 👏 pic.x.com/Q0RZl1OXkX – 10:08 PM

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

Luka Dončić and Mark Cuban embrace postgame pic.x.com/gcSo9DU79C – 10:05 PM

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

LUKA DONČIĆ SHOWED OUT IN HIS RETURN TO DALLAS 😤 pic.x.com/BWbZHxDFqg – 10:04 PM


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

Luka Doncic is undefeated against Texas teams as a Laker. pic.x.com/6DJ1lGxnWb – 10:04 PM


Luka in his return to Dallas:
45 PTS
8 REB
6 AST
4 STL
7 3PM
Nice one Nico. pic.x.com/QNVZHaYHZZ – 10:03 PM


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

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

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

Sounds like there are a lot of Luka Fans For Life in Dallas. – 10:01 PM

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

Luka Doncic comes to the bench during a timeout after tying his season high with 45 points and his Laker teammates joined in on the “Luka! Luka!” chant from the crowd. pic.x.com/Q7O0ohzX9J – 10:01 PM

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

Lakers’ LeBron James eggs on the “Lu-ka! Lu-ka!” chants as Luka Doncic has 45 points and counting in Dallas return pic.x.com/g1iEAltInu – 9:58 PM

Incredible game by Luka…Just as important, BIG TIME W for the LakeShow – 9:58 PM

Loud “Luka! Luka!” chants after Luka Doncic walks to the Lakers’ bench after scoring a season-high-tying 45 points to give LAL a late 110-94 lead. pic.x.com/TIavTymB70 – 9:57 PM

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

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

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

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

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

That’s an exclamation point, Luka – 9:52 PM

Luka Doncic with a circus layup to get to 40 points. – 9:52 PM

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

Points at the half:
31 — Luka
3+1 — AD pic.x.com/srdp5mMEkD – 8:52 PM



Luka Doncic had 31 points in 18 minutes in the first half in his return to Dallas. Talk about making a statement… – 8:50 PM

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

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

Luka in his return to Dallas:
31 PTS
3 REB
3 STL
6 3PM
83 TS%
Great ga—wait it’s only halftime? pic.x.com/K8RxezaInl – 8:41 PM


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

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

Luka Doncic with his sixth 3-pointer of the first half, putting him at 31 points so far. – 8:40 PM

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

Hey remember when Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis?
See you in hell. – 8:32 PM

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

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

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

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

And, of course, Luka makes his traditional off-the-shot-clock shot to start the Lakers’ layup line. pic.x.com/CeJ5b7Q2ma – 7:19 PM

Luka Dončić’s going through warm-ups I had of his first game back in Dallas.
He walked off to cheers from the fans in attendance early when leaving the court: pic.x.com/XLucLLyJxa – 6:48 PM

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

Lakers’ Luka Doncic cash from half court in Dallas pic.x.com/A4oeiRtl9V – 6:45 PM

A closer look at the Luka 4s from Jordan Brand ahead of his return to Dallas tonight for Lakers-Mavs pic.x.com/5Zklmvcs9i – 6:43 PM


Lakers’ Luka Doncic takes the court for warmups before his first return game in Dallas since The Trade pic.x.com/7R13WgH42C – 6:34 PM

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks LIVE: Score, updates, highlights, news, analysis for Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas
Our live blog for Doncic’s return to Dallas is up and running, check it out.
nbcsports.com/nba/live/los-a… – 6:24 PM

Full pregame quote from Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who said that “some have compared it to Babe Ruth, which is kind of cool” regarding the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers: pic.x.com/vJlXZBEqQ2 – 6:23 PM



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

JJ Redick on the team’s message tonight in light of Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas: “We got your back.” – 6:03 PM

Luka returns to Dallas
pic.x.com/tQT1MSqM1i – 6:02 PM

Anthony Davis (remember him, also in the Luka trade?) will play against the Lakers tonight. – 5:46 PM

“When the lights and popcorn came out, and the best players came to play us, he really turned it on”
🔊 J.J. Barea discusses Luka’s reported conditioning issues while in Dallas #MFFL
@jjbareapr | @WorldWideWob | @CPTheFanchise pic.x.com/FYf629KFhZ – 5:30 PM

Luka Dončić arrives at American Airlines Center for his first game back in Dallas since being traded to the Lakers: pic.x.com/7Luyfo0tLD – 5:12 PM

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

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

“[Maverick fans] really did think [Luka Dončić] took the torch from Dirk, and was going to be theirs forever.”
@espn_macmahon says he expects Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas to be “awkward” and “emotional”. 🥺 pic.x.com/WdYKRFcao6 – 4:58 PM

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

Tonight is Luka’s much-anticipated return to Dallas (7:30p ET).
@espn_macmahon just published a book on The Wonder Boy and came on the podcast to discuss it — and a lot more.
fieldhousefiles.com/p/podcast-tim-… – 4:27 PM

Tune in to NBA Today 🚨 4-7p ET w/ @TermineRadio & Ryan McDonough
🔥 Lakers/Thunder
🐺 TWolves collapse
🏀 Luka heads back home (Dallas)
🎙 @CoachKarl22 talks Nuggets at 5:20p ET
📻 Listen Live: sxm.app.link/nbaradiolive
📱Call the Show: (855-622-5867) pic.x.com/9KSID0BBme – 4:06 PM

Luka Doncic as a Mav:
— 29/9/8
— 5x All-Star
— 5x All-NBA
— WCF MVP
— Scoring Champ
— ROTY
— 1st in PPG
— 2nd in APG
— 4th in RPG
— 1st in triple-doubles
— 2nd in double-doubles
— Most PTS in a game
Tonight, he’s back in Dallas. pic.x.com/9HSGt1Vloi – 3:06 PM



“We don’t cross the line.”
OKC fan Jeremy Price (@crtsidetatdude) tells @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine about his exchange with Luka Dončić that led to Luka’s ejection last night. pic.x.com/5CVqE9smx8 – 2:34 PM

Luka Doncic is leading the Lakers in
Points
Rebounds
Assists
Steals
Threes
Plus/Minus
since the trade. pic.x.com/6NuA304vrN – 2:03 PM


Since the trade:
Luka — AD —
27.1 PPG 20.6 PPG
8.1 RPG 9.6 RPG
7.6 APG 1.7 BPG pic.x.com/qHSXGfw1bn – 1:01 PM



Live w/@CPTheFanchise on @SiriusXMNBA Channel 86 for the next 3 hours.
📞 855-NBA-JUMP
📡 sxm.app.link/WorldWideWobNBA
– JJ Barea joins the show to talk Luka’s Dallas return
– Knicks/Celtics reax + big picture
– Luka ejected in OKC + Lakers go for it
– Dual-center lineups Pt. II pic.x.com/5HOpc5dA50 – 12:56 PM


🙌 🇸🇮 The Dallas Mavericks will have shirts on the seats for fans at Luka Dončić’s return game featuring a message in Slovenian, the translation of which is: “THANKS FOR EVERYTHING”
(via @espn_macmahon) pic.x.com/jrTzWl1SRE – 11:42 AM


Awful Officiating | Need To Lock Up #3 In West | Luka Back In Dallas x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM

👀🍿 Luka returns to Dallas for the first time since the trade!
💭 Drop your prediction for Luka’s statline pic.x.com/4poiySvHJc – 10:52 AM


My two-part mega preview, with tons of new reporting, on Luka’s return to Dallas tonight …
Part 1: tinyurl.com/2vaa8kak
Part 2: tinyurl.com/mr43c9ar pic.x.com/ouL2vc9PWx – 10:41 AM


“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

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

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

Luka and the Lakers Aren’t Proving Nico and the Mavs Wrong — Yet
Ex-Mavs analytics staffer @JerryEngelmann on how Luka looks in L.A. and what the future holds for him & the Lakers.
roycewebb.com/p/luka-and-the… – 9:45 AM

Mark Cuban sold the Mavericks expecting to still make decisions — then he heard they traded Luka Doncic.
Story with @cclark_13, @sam_amick and @davidaldridgedc: nytimes.com/athletic/62651… pic.x.com/Qi69u8xDf9 – 9:17 AM


Adopted Texan Luka Doncic returns to the place that “really felt like home,” where a heartbroken Mavs fan base will celebrate his 6 1/2 spectacular seasons in Dallas and mourn that it wasn’t much longer.
ESPN story: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:16 AM

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

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

Tune into The Starting Lineup with @TheFrankIsola & @Scalabrine!

🏀 Luka Ejected. Returns to Dallas Tonight

🎙 @bdameris at 8:30am ET
📻 Listen Live: sxm.app.link/nbaradiolive
📱 Call the Show: 855-622-5867 pic.x.com/1Q6iKhzn4x – 7:02 AM

Luka Dončić on return to Dallas:
“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”.
#NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/18… – 6:29 AM

Luka Doncic hit a tough shot over Isaiah Hartenstein, then appeared to exchange words with a fan, earning a second technical and an ejection. The OKC Thunder seized momentum and went on to defeat the LA Lakers.
#NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/18… – 3:15 AM

New Locked on Thunder Podcast:
🏀 Luka Doncic Tossed
🏀 Jalen Williams GREAT outing
🏀 SGA Stamps MVP Case
🏀 What did we learn?
#ThunderUp #FirstListen:
linktr.ee/LockedOnThunder pic.x.com/VxsNteVGrN – 2:51 AM


Luka Doncic ejected after fan exchange misread as referee insult sportando.basketball/en/luka-doncic… – 2:06 AM

👀 Luka Doncic ejected after being assessed his second technical foul on this play!
Did he deserve it? 🤔 pic.x.com/0RbaXBO9vp – 1:40 AM

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

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

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

Luka Doncic returning to Dallas for tomorrow’s game against the Mavericks: “Of course, there’s gonna be a lot of emotion for me. I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t know how I’m gonna feel, honestly…”
His full answer: pic.x.com/es3zF0HdcT – 11:50 PM


Jalen Williams on not hearing what was said during the Luka ejection: “Paycom’s usually too loud to hear.” – 11:33 PM