The dust has settled on the NBA landscape since the landmark Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade that shook the league. Now, for the first time since the blockbuster deal, the Mavericks and the Lakers will meet Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Since the deal, Dončić has been trying to find his footing, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game on 39% from the floor in four games. The Lakers are 2-2 in those contests, with Dončić putting up his best performance since the trade in Saturday’s win over the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis played just one game for the Mavs — a 26-point, 16-rebound effort — before being sidelined with an adductor strain.
The Lakers are still in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt at 34-21 on the season and leading the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is 2 1/2 games back of Memphis and Denver for the No. 2 seed in the West, while Dallas, at 31-27, is tied for seventh in the West with Minnesota and trying to climb out of the play-in tournament during the stretch run.
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