LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson added 22 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied for a 109-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Dorian Finney-Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who registered their eighth win in 10 games after taking an early lead over the struggling Lakers.
Dallas was trailing 100-94 with seven minutes to go before scoring 11 points in a row in a rally started by Brunson's fourth 3-pointer. Doncic scored 9 of 21 and looked significantly less sharp than most of the previous games during his month-long scoring tear, but made enough baskets to win it.
LeBron James scored 26 points for the Lakers and 20 points from Carmelo Anthony, who took his sixth loss in seven games despite erasing a 21-point deficit in 12 thrilling minutes stretching to halftime.
Despite putting in a much better effort against Dallas than in their most recent games, Los Angeles has lost 15 out of 21 games to the season's worst seven games down to .500, even in post-season play. Even in these tournaments, its position is increasingly looking weak. Los Angeles is 0-3 since the All-Star break.
Two nights after the Lakers were booed by their home fans in a lifeless blow loss to New Orleans, James and his teammates had crowds applauding his effort and return - but the result was the same.
Dallas wrapped up the five-game road trip with four wins, but only after a largely poor second half.
The Mavs jumped for their big lead during the first half, highlighted by Doncic's incendiary one-handed putback on Dwight Howard late in the first quarter.
The first half looked like another wreck for the Lakers, who received three technical fouls to argue between their missed shots and the lap defense. Coaches Frank Vogel, Kent Bezmore and Russell Westbrook, who missed eight of their first nine shots, all flared up.
But Los Angeles scored 22-7 at halftime and also pulled off James's 3-pointer with cold-shooting Dallas.
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After what was essentially an ugly hand thump at the trade deadline, the Lakers on Tuesday pardoned disappointing center DeAndre Jordan and seasoned point guard D.J. Augustine and travelman forward Wayne Gabriel. The newcomers weren't in town yet, but should be available later this week.
Tip-ins
Mavericks: Dallas avenged a loss at home to the Lakers in December, while Doncic was sidelined with an ankle injury. ... Spencer Dinwiddie had 14 points and nine assists.
Lakers: He also waived two-way forward Seko Doumbouya for a second roster spot. ... Avery Bradley missed his fourth straight game with a right knee injury.
Next
The Mavericks: Host Warriors on Thursday.
Lakers: Thursday at the Clippers.