LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Mavericks took advantage of a depleted Los Angeles Lakers lineup, rolling to a 121-94 preseason victory Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
The Lakers played without seven rotation players, including LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, DeAndre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and Bronny James. With much of their regular roster unavailable, Los Angeles relied on reserves and two-way players, who kept the game close early before fading in the second half.
Dallas trailed 36-32 after one quarter and 66-53 at halftime but dominated the final 24 minutes. The Mavericks outscored the Lakers 37-8 in the fourth quarter to put the game away, turning what had been a competitive contest into a rout.
Rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft, showed flashes of his potential with 13 points and three assists in 28 minutes. Anthony Davis led Dallas with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Klay Thompson and Derrick Lively added 12 points each. The Mavericks’ balance and depth overwhelmed a Lakers team that struggled to find offense without its stars.
Gabe Vincent was the lone bright spot for Los Angeles, hitting six 3-pointers and finishing with 22 points. Rui Hachimura added 19 points and Jaxson Hayes had 12 points and 10 rebounds, but the Lakers’ shooting went cold in the second half. Dallas’ defense tightened as Los Angeles made just three field goals in the final quarter.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd used the game as a final tune-up before the regular season, keeping his key players in rhythm while testing new combinations. Dallas moved the ball efficiently and attacked the paint, finishing with 56 points inside and 26 assists on 42 made field goals.
For the Lakers, the night underscored their depth concerns as they wait for their injured players to return. James remains sidelined with sciatica, while Dončić and Ayton continue to recover from minor injuries. Smart and Reaves were held out for rest, and Bronny James missed his second straight game with an ankle issue.