Some games feel like a forecast of what a team might become, and this Lakers win had that sense from the jump. LA’s 129–119 victory came with smooth pacing, confident ball movement, and a clear sense of purpose. Austin Reaves attacked the game with freedom, while Luka Doncic worked through the Dallas defence with patient control. Anthony Davis’ return created early buzz for the Mavericks, yet his limited minutes left them adjusting on the fly. Aussie fans watching at odd hours would have noticed how the Lakers stayed composed, while Dallas drifted out of rhythm in key moments. By the final stretch, the Mavericks felt trapped in a Khawaja penalty box of stalled possessions, unable to generate any real threat.
Reaves Delivers Another Strong Performance
Austin Reaves’ 38-point night wasn’t simply a hot shooting outing — it was a demonstration of how fully he has grown into a high-usage creator. From the opening minutes he recognised Dallas’ switching scheme and immediately hunted the weakest defender in each matchup. His footwork, change of direction, and comfort pulling up off either hand made it difficult for the Mavericks to tilt help without surrendering clean perimeter looks elsewhere.
Reaves also provided a stabilising offensive rhythm. By attacking decisively and avoiding over-dribbling, he kept LA’s spacing intact and forced Dallas into late-clock scrambling. His confidence became a structural advantage: every possession began with LA already dictating the terms.
Doncic Shapes LA’s Rhythm With Ease
Luka Dončić’s 35 points and 11 assists served as the organisational backbone of LA’s offensive flow. His ability to pause, probe, and re-engage screens forced Dallas to defend multiple layers of action every possession. That repetition wore on the Mavericks’ back-line rotations.
Dončić also provided essential late-game control. When the pace slowed and the Lakers needed cleaner, higher-value looks, he ensured the ball moved to the right spots at the right time. His timing on pocket passes, skip reads, and cross-court lasers prevented Dallas from mounting any final push and reinforced LA’s composure in the closing stretch.
Dallas Shows Flashes but Lacks Stability
Anthony Davis’ 13 points in limited minutes were a positive sign physically — his movement was fluid and his defensive reads were sharp. Offensively, though, he looked understandably rusty, and Dallas struggled to build consistent scoring structure around their occasional bursts of momentum.
The Mavericks again showcased the same pattern that has defined many of their losses: flashes of effective spacing followed by long spells of static, predictable half-court play. Without a secondary initiator who can relieve Dončić when defences load up, their late-game decision-making becomes simplified and easier to guard. The lack of stabilising structure continues to separate them from top-tier contenders.
LA Locks Down the Final Minutes
Los Angeles’ defensive execution in the final four minutes decided the game. Their weak-side rotations tightened, their switches became sharper, and they took away Dallas’ preferred corner and slot actions. The Mavericks went nearly four full minutes without a made field goal, largely because LA cut off the first and second reads of every possession.
On offence, the Lakers mirrored that discipline with patience. They didn’t force tempo; instead, they leveraged mismatches and worked deep into the clock until high-value opportunities appeared. The resulting 13–1 closing run reflected a team comfortable in late-game situations and confident in its defensive identity.
Cup Implications Favour the Lakers
At 4–0 in Cup play, the Lakers remain one of the tournament’s most consistent performers. Their quarterfinal matchup on December 10 against the Spurs will test their ability to pair late-game defence with organised half-court execution. The format suits their strengths — composure, depth, and situational discipline.
Dallas, meanwhile, is officially eliminated from the Cup. More importantly, this loss underlined their ongoing concerns: over-reliance on Dončić, inconsistent auxiliary creation, and defensive lapses during key stretches. Their focus now shifts back to regular-season refinement as they try to stabilise their identity.
Game Summary Table
| Category | Lakers | Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 129 | 119 |
| Top Scorer | Reaves (38) | Washington (22) |
| Secondary Star | Doncic 35–11 | Davis returned |
| Late-Game Trend | 13–1 run | Four-minute drought |
| Cup Status | Quarterfinal set | Eliminated |
The Lakers carried themselves like a team finding real form. Reaves and Doncic offered balance, confidence, and smart shot-making, while their defence stepped up late. Dallas showed potential but again lacked closing structure. LA moves into the Cup phase with momentum on their side.
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