Lakers vs. Mavericks score, takeaways: Luka Doncic’s near triple-double leads Dallas to comeback win over L.A.

Luka Doncic stuffed the stat sheet for the Mavericks, who score 51 points in the third quarter

Although Luka Doncic will get most of the attention for his effort of 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, the Mavericks All-Star got plenty of assistance on the offensive end as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood combined for 56 points in the victory. On the other hand, LeBron put up the kind of superstar numbers we’ve come to expect over the years, finishing with 38 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but the rest of the Lakers’ lineup was unable to provide him with the necessary assistance to carry the load on the road.

Dallas moves up to 18-16 on the year with the victory, while Los Angeles drops to 13-20.

1. The Mavericks erupt to open this game in the third quarter.

The Mavericks’ performance against the Lakers in the first half was at an all-time lows. They had a field goal percentage of 39.5 and a 3-point percentage of 22.7, and they trailed an Anthony Davis-less Lakers squad by 11 points. Dallas was going to make a comeback given how horribly things went in the first two quarters, but nobody could have anticipated the 51-point avalanche the Mavericks delivered on the Lakers, utilizing a 20-5 run to lead 82-65 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Dallas had a 94-75 advantage at the end of the third quarter, and their 51 points were not only a Christmas Day record and tied a Mavericks record for most points in a quarter, but also the most points scored in a quarter this year. Nine three-pointers, including four made by Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter, are what made it all possible. Luca Doncic contributed to the third-quarter fun as well, scoring 13 of his 32 points and dishing out six assists over those 12 minutes.

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In the third quarter, the Mavericks’ stylistic approach wasn’t really altered; it was as straightforward as players making baskets. That has been Dallas’ season-long narrative. This club is tough to beat when they start scoring from beyond the arc. The Mavericks create the second-most wide-open 3s this season, but their 38.1 percent success rate, which is 15th in the league, puts them in the center of the pack.

The Mavericks’ version that misses open shots was on display in the first half, however their performance in the third quarter marked a sharp turn for the better with almost all of their shots falling in. Although it won’t last in the long run, it’s encouraging to watch players like Reggie Bullock, who has struggled mightily, break out of a rut in the middle of a game for Dallas.

2. Everyone versus LeBron James

We already knew that James would have to put in an all-out effort for the Lakers to have a shot in this game as they lack depth behind their two stars with Davis out of the lineup. However, despite their combined 32 points, the other four Lakers starters were outscored by LeBron. When none of your starters score in double figures, you’re not going to win many games, despite Russell Westbrook’s best efforts.

Austin Reaves had a modest 16 points, and Russell Westbrook put up 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists off the bench. Particularly when the group shoots 32.1 percent from outside the arc, a persistent problem for the Lakers this season. Los Angeles’ 3-point shooting, which is 26th in the league, was slightly below season average, demonstrating once more how much this team needs shooters to contend in the West. Even LeBron shot 0 for 4 from beyond the arc, but given everything else he did offensively, that barely registers.

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There was some hope in the first half when the Lakers shot 53.5 percent from the field and double-teamed Luka Doncic on every trip down the floor, which made it difficult for the Mavericks’ other players to get points. The Lakers twice built up leads of 14 points or more in the first half, but once Dallas started shooting well from beyond the arc after the break, L.A. simply had the tools to keep up.

It’s the most recent illustration that Lakers supporters may use to convince GM Rob Pelinka that his team needs to make one or more changes if they are to have any chance of competing in the playoffs or even the play-in round.

3. Demonstrating why Christian Wood ought to continue to be in the starting lineup

Wood started for the Mavericks for the sixth straight game, and it was possibly his best performance while donning a Mavericks uniform. He had 30 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in total. He had many crucial defensive possessions, demonstrating that he is more than willing to put up the effort on that end of the court.

It was a complete performance on offense. The fact that the Lakers’ lead wasn’t larger at the break was mostly due to Wood, who had 15 points at the break. Wood continued to play effectively after the break as well.

Given that Wood is now eligible for a four-year, $77 million contract extension, it was the ideal time for him to put on such an impressive performance. Although Wood is in the final year of his deal and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agency this summer, the Mavericks may be better off signing the big man to a contract now because if he keeps getting better, the cost will only go up.

And given how things turned out with Jalen Brunson, whom Dallas had the opportunity to extend his contract with midseason but chose not to do so, they may not want that to occur again if they intend to keep Wood past this season. Last summer, the Knicks were able to sign Brunson as an unrestricted free agent. Luka Doncic