LA Lakers rout Mavs to register ninth win
new york — Isaiah Thomas made his home debut for his new team Friday night, contributing 17 points to the Los Angeles Lakers’ ninth consecutive home win in beating the Dallas Mavericks 124-102 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Lonzo Ball returned from a 15game absence due to a sprained left MCL to chip in with nine points off the bench, helping the Lakers snap a three-game losing streak. Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews shared game-high scoring honors with 19 points apiece for the Mavericks, who lost their third straight.
Even with Thomas and Ball not in the starting unit, the Lakers never trailed in the game, jumping out to an immediate 8-0 lead with the help of a Josh Hart 3-pointer.
Ball buried a 3-pointer shortly after entering the game midway through the first period, extending the Los Angeles lead to 23-5.
J.J. Barea connected on a pair of 3-pointers early in the second quarter as the Mavericks rallied within 34-26. But Dallas got no closer the rest of the way, with Thomas shortcircuiting a Mavericks threat in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer after the lead had shrunk to 12.
Thomas, who went for 22 points in his Lakers debut, a 130-123 loss at Dallas, hit five Lakers 124 Dallas 102 Toronto 119 Milwaukee 122 Denver 122 San Antonio 119 Phoenix 117 Clippers 128 Utah 81 Portland 100 Houston 120 Minnesota 102 Memphis 89 Cleveland 112 New Orleans 124 Miami 123 Detroit 98 Boston 110 Indiana 116 Atlanta 93 Washington 105 Charlotte 122 of his 12 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers. He had totaled just 10 points, missing all five of his 3-point attempts, in the Lakers’ most recent two games.
Ball, whose nine points were the product of three 3-pointers, also found time for seven rebounds and six assists in just 17 minutes. The rookie hadn’t played since Jan. 13, when he had nine points in a 107101 win at Dallas. Julius Randle recorded an 18-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double for the Lakers, who haven’t lost a home game since falling to Charlotte on Jan. 5. The victory gave Los Angeles a winning record at home (15-14).
The triple-double was the fifth of Randle’s career. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (15 points), Brandon Ingram (15), Ivica Zubac (14), Kyle Kuzma (12) and Hart (12) made it seven players in double figures for the Lakers. —