Game ID: 22500078
Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 28 32 38 31 129DAL 22 40 32 25 119
DAL @ LAL ScoutingDAL @ LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 11/15 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 10 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 11/10, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 11)
BACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Kleber back 11/08 after 6, 11 min since (110% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/18 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 11 since 10/27, returns tonight: 16 min (83% of 19)
BACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Smith Jr. back 11/15 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 11/08 after 6, 16 min since (154% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/23 · 4 days' restBACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 16 min since (83% of 19)
BACK Smith Jr. back 11/15 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 11)
LAL availability going into 11/25 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 18 min since (94% of 19)
LAL availability going into 11/28 · 2 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 18 min since (94% of 19)
LAL availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 19 min since (100% of 19)
LAL availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Smart missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 11/18, returns tonight: 6 min (52% of 11)
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 20 min since (105% of 19)
LAL availability going into 12/04 · 2 days' restOUT Smart missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 6 min since (52% of 11)
LAL availability going into 12/05 · back-to-backOUT Smart missed 4 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 11)
DAL availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Davis missed 9 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 5 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 11/14 after 8, 15 min since (88% of 16)
BACK Powell back 11/17 after 2, 17 min since (116% of 14)
BACK Hardy back 11/17 after 2, 14 min since (109% of 13)
NEW Williams 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Gafford 22 to 27 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Davis missed 10 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 6 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 11/14 after 8, 16 min since (95% of 16)
BACK Powell back 11/17 after 2, 17 min since (116% of 14)
BACK Hardy back 11/17 after 2, 15 min since (119% of 13)
NEW Gafford 22 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Russell 19 to 24 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Davis missed 11 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 7 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 2 since 11/19, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
BACK Lively II back 11/14 after 8, 16 min since (98% of 16)
BACK Hardy back 11/17 after 2, 15 min since (117% of 13)
NEW Gafford 22 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Russell 19 to 27 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Davis missed 12 since 11/03, out tonight
OUT Nembhard missed 8 since 11/10, returns tonight: 17 min (86% of 20)
OUT Russell missed 2 since 11/21, returns tonight: 10 min (53% of 19)
BACK Powell back 11/17 after 2, 10 min since (69% of 14)
BACK Hardy back 11/17 after 2, 14 min since (112% of 13)
NEW Gafford 22 to 27 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Davis missed 13 since 11/03, returns tonight: 28 min (90% of 31)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 8, 17 min since (86% of 20)
BACK Russell back 11/24 after 2, 10 min since (53% of 19)
BACK Powell back 11/17 after 2, 10 min since (70% of 14)
BACK Hardy back 11/17 after 2, 12 min since (97% of 13)
DAL availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backBACK Davis back 11/28 after 13, 28 min since (90% of 31)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 8, 20 min since (103% of 20)
BACK Russell back 11/24 after 2, 10 min since (53% of 19)
BACK Powell back 11/22 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
DAL availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Russell missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 18 min (97% of 19)
BACK Davis back 11/28 after 13, 28 min since (90% of 31)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 8, 20 min since (104% of 20)
BACK Powell back 11/22 after 2, 12 min since (84% of 14)
DAL availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Gafford missed 2 since 11/29, returns tonight: 14 min (65% of 22)
BACK Davis back 11/28 after 13, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 8, 24 min since (123% of 20)
BACK Russell back 11/24 after 2, 14 min since (75% of 19)
BACK Powell back 11/22 after 2, 13 min since (89% of 14)
DAL availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 3 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 8 min (55% of 14)
OUT Hardy missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 20 min (162% of 13)
BACK Davis back 11/28 after 13, 30 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Gafford back 12/03 after 2, 14 min since (65% of 22)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 8, 26 min since (133% of 20)
BACK Russell back 11/24 after 2, 14 min since (77% of 19)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vanderbilt (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 17 and Washington at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Davis (13 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-6 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the line, where the Lakers take 30 free throws a game to Dallas's 24. Call it the Lakers 118, Dallas 109.
11/15 @ MIL 119-95 — LAL notes
LAL won 119-95. LAL shot 49% (38 of 77) to MIL's 40%, 13 of 33 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MIL's 24 — 30 points from the stripe to their 16. Dončić led with 41 (9 of 19, 5 of 11 from three, 18 of 20 at the line); Reaves added 25, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q2, 35-16: a lead of 12 became 31. LaRavia was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/18 vs UTA 140-126 — LAL notes
LAL won 140-126. LAL shot 60% (50 of 84) to UTA's 52%, 11 of 32 from three, and went to the line 40 times to UTA's 18 — 29 points from the stripe to their 17. Dončić led with 37 (11 of 22, 2 of 10 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); Reaves added 26, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-22: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 23. LAL trailed 67-71 at the half and won the second half 73-55. Vincent was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/23 @ UTA 108-106 — LAL notes
LAL won 108-106. LAL shot 44% (38 of 86) to UTA's 43%, 10 of 38 from three, and went to the line 27 times to UTA's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Dončić led with 33 (10 of 24, 3 of 12 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Reaves added 22, James 17. The hinge was Q2, 30-25: a lead of 2 became 7.
11/25 vs LAC 135-118 — LAL notes
LAL won 135-118. LAL shot 57% (50 of 87) to LAC's 52%, 13 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 43 (14 of 28, 7 of 12 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 31, L. James 25. The hinge was Q4, 37-25: a lead of 5 became 17. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/28 vs DAL 129-119 — LAL notes
LAL won 129-119. LAL shot 59% (45 of 76) to DAL's 48%, 18 of 35 from three, and went to the line 26 times to DAL's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 17. Reaves led with 38 (12 of 15, 6 of 8 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Dončić added 35, Ayton 17. The hinge was Q1, 28-22: from level to 6 ahead. LAL trailed 60-62 at the half and won the second half 69-57. Ayton was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
11/30 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 54 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Vanderbilt (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Jones (4 straight), Poole (13 straight), Jordan (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 33 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 113 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it the Lakers 124, New Orleans 111, the Lakers by 13.
12/01 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 118, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Reaves at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Smart (2 straight), Vanderbilt (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Booker at 21 a game. Without Green (11 straight), Dunn (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it the Lakers 120, Phoenix 114.
12/04 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Barnes at 24 a game. Without Barrett (5 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 28 a game. Without Smart (3 straight), Vanderbilt (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Toronto's 29 and the defense, Toronto allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Toronto 116, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/05 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 34 and White at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 121, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 32 a game. Without Smart (4 straight), Vanderbilt (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 113 a night to the Lakers' 121 and the line, where the Lakers take 26 free throws a game to Boston's 21. Call it Boston 120, the Lakers 116, the Lakers keeping it close.
11/19 vs NYK 111-113 — DAL notes
DAL lost 111-113. DAL shot 41% (35 of 85) to NYK's 44%, 16 of 44 from three. DAL turned it over 17 times to NYK's 9, and NYK turned those into 8 steals. Marshall led with 23 (7 of 11, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Russell added 23, Christie 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-24, but the other 3 periods went 89-86 against them.
11/21 vs NOP 118-115 — DAL notes
DAL won 118-115. DAL shot 48% (40 of 84) to NOP's 46%, 16 of 43 from three. DAL turned it over 20 times to NOP's 13, and NOP turned those into 15 steals. Flagg led with 29 (12 of 19, 0 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Washington added 24, Christie 23. The hinge was Q3, 36-22: DAL came in trailing by 14 and left it level. DAL trailed 49-63 at the half and won the second half 69-52.
11/22 vs MEM 96-102 — DAL notes
DAL lost 96-102. DAL shot 38% (35 of 91) to MEM's 40%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 16 times to MEM's 24. The glass went 41-61 against them. Thompson led with 22 (7 of 17, 6 of 12 from three); Williams added 18, Washington 15. Q2 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 80-71 against them. Gafford's -13 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ MIA 102-106 — DAL notes
DAL lost 102-106. DAL shot 39% (38 of 97) to MIA's 45%, 12 of 40 from three, and got to the line 16 times to MIA's 24. Washington led with 27 (10 of 21, 3 of 8 from three); Christie added 15, Thompson 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 8 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 80-72 against them.
11/28 @ LAL 119-129 — DAL notes
DAL lost 119-129. DAL took 15 more shots (91 to 76), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to LAL's 59%, 14 of 32 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAL's 26. Washington led with 22 (9 of 19, 2 of 4 from three); Nembhard added 17, Marshall 16. Q2 was theirs, 40-32, turning a 6-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 97-79 against them. Christie's -18 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Harden at 31 and Leonard at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (6 straight), Miller (6 straight), Lopez (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Washington at 19 and Flagg at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 122. Call it the Clippers 115, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
12/01 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 46 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Braun (8 straight), Gordon (4 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Washington at 22 and Flagg at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Russell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 46 percent from three to Dallas's 34 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-4. Call it Denver 120, Dallas 112.
12/03 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Washington at 21 and Flagg at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Washington (2 straight), Gafford (2 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Powell at 25 and Herro at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Dallas minus-6 and the line, where Miami takes 25 free throws a game to Dallas's 19. Call it Miami 118, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.
12/05 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, and living at the line: 29 free throws a game, Gilgeous-Alexander alone taking 9 to 17 of them while averaging 35.6. The wins came every which way, a 39-18 first quarter against Portland, a fourth-quarter comeback at Portland, a 31-18 second at Golden State, which is the mark of a team that does not need one particular quarter to go right. Dallas comes in hot in its own way: three straight wins, 131 at Denver on 56 percent shooting, Davis back and scoring (32, then 17), Flagg carrying real minutes (35, 24, 22), and a habit of owning the second quarter, 42-27 at Denver and 36-21 against Miami, both turning deficits into leads. The soft spots: Dallas gets to the line 18 times a game to OKC's 29, allows 115, and shot 39 percent on 97 attempts in its last loss.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on two things. The second quarter is Dallas's. Expect them within a possession or ahead at the half if Davis and Flagg get the ball inside and the threes fall at their 40 percent clip. Then the free-throw line decides it. OKC's edge there has been ten attempts a game, and Gilgeous-Alexander against a defense that allowed 24 and 26 free throws in its two recent losses is the worst matchup on the floor for Dallas. Call it OKC 122, Dallas 112, the Thunder pulling away in the third, Gilgeous-Alexander over 30 with double-digit free throws, and the glass (OKC lost it 51-37 to Phoenix) the only way Dallas keeps it inside five.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
MK M. Kleber
RH R. Hachimura
DALAD A. Davis
BW B. Williams
CF C. Flagg
DG D. Gafford
DP D. Powell
KT K. Thompson
MC M. Christie
NM N. Marshall
PW P. Washington
RN R. Nembhard
LAL/DAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Reaves scores 38 points, Luka adds 35, Lakers hold off Mavs 129-119 in Anthony Davis' LA return
LOS ANGELES -- — Austin Reaves scored 38 points, Luka Doncic added 35 points and 11 assists in his third meeting with his former team, and the Lakers spoiled Anthony Davis ' return to Los Angeles with a 129-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Davis had 13 points and five rebounds while on a minutes restriction in his first game in Los Angeles since the Lakers traded him for Doncic 10 months ago.
Reaves scored 19 points and Doncic added 17 in an impressive second half, allowing the Lakers to hold on for their sixth consecutive victory. They also swept four games of NBA Cup group play, earning a home quarterfinal.
LeBron James scored 13 points after managing just two in the first half, but he hit a decisive 3-pointer with two minutes to play. Reaves hit six 3-pointers and Doncic made four.
P.J. Washington scored 22 points and Ryan Nembhard added 17 for Dallas, while Max Christie scored 13 points against his former team. Rookie Cooper Flagg had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, but the Mavericks lost for the fifth time in six games despite a noticeable improvement on their recent play with Davis' return.
Dallas had a narrow lead with less than eight minutes to play, but the Lakers held the Mavs without a field goal for nearly four minutes while making a 13-1 run that included big baskets from Reaves and Deandre Ayton , who finished with 17 points.
In his return from a 14-game absence with a strained calf, Davis received a loud, warm reception from Lakers fans when introduced with the Mavs’ starters. The big man is beloved in LA after teaming up with James for a championship run during 5 1/2 seasons with the Lakers.
Up next Mavericks: At Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.