LOS ANGELES, USA – November 29, 2025 – Luka Doncic delivered a near quadruple-double with 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Dallas Mavericks fell 118-115 to the Los Angeles Lakers in Friday's NBA Cup group finale at Crypto.com Arena.
The Mavericks, now 5-14 and clinging to playoff hopes, showed fight in a season marked by injuries and inconsistency. Doncic's 32 first-half points kept Dallas competitive, but Klay Thompson's 25 points, including clutch threes, powered LA's comeback.
LeBron James added 25 points in his third game of an unprecedented 23rd season, scoring 16 after halftime as the Lakers pulled away. James Harden tallied 29 for the Clippers in a separate matchup, but here, LA's depth shone.
Dallas trailed by 12 in the third but mounted a 22-8 run. Overtime belonged to the Lakers, with Curry's buzzer-beating three sealing it. Coach Steve Kerr lauded Curry's resilience post-injury, while Ime Udoka rued Dallas' execution.
The loss eliminates Dallas from Cup contention, but Doncic's performance—his 51st 40-point game—hints at brighter days. LA advances, eyeing deeper runs.
Attendance hit 18,000, with global viewership peaking during Curry's surge. Broadcasts reported record streams.
