Zebra Sports NBA Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas draws ESPN’s largest non-Christmas NBA audience this season

Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas draws ESPN’s largest non-Christmas NBA audience this season



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What’s the buzz on Twitter?

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Khobi Price @khobi_price
Luka Doncic’s 45-point performance in his 1st game back in Dallas was, understandably, yesterday’s focus.
But as Doncic said, “…it’s time to move on.”
And for the Lakers, that means accomplishing one final goal – clinching the No. 3 seed:
ocregister.com/2025/04/10/aft…3:47 PM
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NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“That’s how you make it right if you’re Nico Harrison … go get KD to pair alongside Kyrie and AD.” 😳
@espn_macmahon and @KendrickPerkins on the Mavs’ future after Luka Doncic 👀 pic.x.com/DRXwdvhfIu3:42 PM

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Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
Reiter Than You is live nationwide on @InfSportsNet from 10-noon ET: Luka’s return, Mavs pain, Rory’s big chance, Fields on benching, Would You Rather, @basketballtalk, @PrettyDaddyRTY eyes the door, Buy or Sell, more.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@Audacy app
@SIRIUSXM 375 – 9:57 AM
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Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Same day, same building, different stories! 🥹
🇩🇪 6 years ago Dirk Nowitzki played his final game in Dallas.
🇸🇮 6 years later Luka Doncic played his first game in Dallas since the trade. pic.x.com/youQCn5X5f3:00 AM

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Tim Cato @tim_cato
can’t stop thinking how no one wanted that night. not luka, he made exceptionally clear. not the arena, who stood for everyone not there. literally no one, but for the very few people who chose it. what a depressing parallel to our societal existence. – 2:14 AM
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Khobi Price @khobi_price
Luka Dončić didn’t know what tonight would bring.
After scoring 45 points in a win over his former team, he was appreciative of the fan reception, but also happy to put today behind him.
On the wide-ranging emotions of Dončić’s 1st game back in Dallas:
ocregister.com/2025/04/09/lak…1:17 AM
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Brad Townsend @townbrad
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.’” – 10:10 PM
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Brad Townsend @townbrad
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
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Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
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
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Dave McMenamin @mcten
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
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Eddie Sefko @ESefko
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
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Khobi Price @khobi_price
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
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Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
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
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Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
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
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Eddie Sefko @ESefko
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
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Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
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
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Khobi Price @khobi_price
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
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Dave McMenamin @mcten
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Eddie Sefko @ESefko
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Khobi Price @khobi_price
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
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Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
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
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Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
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
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Khobi Price @khobi_price
JJ Redick on the team’s message tonight in light of Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas: “We got your back.” – 6:03 PM
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