Thomas has solid debut, but LA loses

DALLAS (AP) — Isaiah Thomas used his crossover dribble to create an open 3-pointer that helped his new team build a double-digit lead in the first half.

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn't stay in front in the diminutive guard's debut following his ill-fated stint in Cleveland. Still, there was plenty of evidence that Thomas can be the scorer he was in Boston.

Dirk Nowitzki had a season-high 22 points, Harrison Barnes added 21 and the last-place Dallas Mavericks rallied to beat the Lakers 130-123 on Saturday night.

Thomas finished with 22 points and already looks like a better fit in coach Luke Walton's offense following the deadline deal that brought him from the Cavaliers, who acquired him last summer in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.

“Obviously we couldn't run a ton of stuff because he has been with us for one day, but he was good,” Walton said. “You can see his competitive spirit come out a little bit. He was scrapping and knocking down shots.”

Thomas' first half with the Lakers was his highest-scoring half of the season, a team-high 16 points. Thomas, who was part of a four-player deal at the trading deadline that also brought Channing Frye, missed the first 36 games recovering from a hip injury.

“I like the pace of this team,” he said. “I like the energy the guys bring. Coach did the best job he could to put me in position to play to my strengths with only knowing a couple plays.”

Doug McDermott had eight points in his Dallas debut following a deadline deal that brought him from New York and was part of a youthful closing lineup that outscored the Lakers 13-5 in the final 3:09.

Nowitzki, Barnes and starting guard Wesley Matthews all sat in the last three minutes, and rookie guard Dennis Smith Jr. put Dallas ahead for good at 119-118 on a layup. Smith finished with 14 points, and the Mavericks had a season high in points.

Thomas was out there late for the Lakers, who had a season-best, fourgame winning streak stopped for the third time in a month.

Julius Randle had 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, and Brandon Ingram scored 22 points. Kyle Kuzma had 12 points and 15 rebounds.