A real shock of our Sunday evening, the Mavs – Lakers kept all their promises with a scenario worthy of a thriller. Largely dominated throughout the first half, the Angelinos slam the comeback of the season to win in Dallas!
For the home score box of this match, it’s here.
The Mavs start strong, it rains 3-pointers in Dallas
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving against LeBron James and Anthony Davis, no need to say more to be hyped by this meeting in prime time. We expect a huge fight and the Mavs quickly prove us wrong by correcting the Angelinos at the start of the match. While LA collects bricks and awful possessions, Dallas continues shooting from the parking lot with diabolical efficiency. From Luka to Tim Hardaway Jr., everyone goes through it. Very quickly, the gap climbs and we say to ourselves that this shock stinks of blowout. With still 7 minutes to play in the second quarter, there are already… 27 points difference! The Lakers decide to end the proposed porridge and end the half much better. 61-47 at the break, it’s clearly not great but hope is there.
Storm Vanderbilt hits Dallas, LA picks up the score.
The coaches had time to make their little halftime speech and obviously the Lakers ate lion meat at the break. The man who changed everything for the Angelinos: Jarred Vanderbilt. Recovered at the trade deadline, the strong winger is simply EVERYWHERE. An example of hustle, combativeness, defensive effort, without forgetting that it also contributes on the other side of the field. His energy contaminates the whole group and the Lakers gradually return the Mavs. On fire at 3-pointers in the first act, the state of grace seems over for Dallas, which is now breaking its teeth on a Lakers defense found behind General Anthony Davis, huge on both sides of the field tonight.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James close shop
Discreet during the last game of the Lakers, the two bosses of the franchise recovered well this night against Dallas. Totally off his pumps and then injured during the third quarter, LBJ gritted his teeth and finished strong to snatch a very precious victory for his people (we will forget his last defense on Justin Holiday, on the other hand). At his side, Anthony Davis was the great gentleman of the Lakers. Best scorer of his own, aggressive and dominant, Unibrow delivered a boss perf. We will particularly remember his huge shot at the end of money time on the face of Luka Doncic.
18.1 on the clock! AD extends the lead! @Lakers 108@dallasmavs 105
Watch the final seconds on ABC! pic.twitter.com/jQU94l0jkm
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2023
The Slovenian, terrifyingly easy at the start of the match, will have had a much more complicated second period with Jarred Vanderbilt glued to his coattails. It is also the hero of the evening who makes him lose a precious ball 20 seconds from time. Anthony Davis and Dennis Schröder on the line will validate once and for all the success while Kyrie Irving’s prayer will be too short to snatch the equalizer. Huge victory for LA, which becomes the first team to recover from a 27-point deficit this season!