Lakers Preseason Performance Against Mavericks
In a preseason tilt against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Lakers guard Gabe Vincent showcased his shooting prowess at T-Mobile Arena, thrilling the pro-Lakers crowd. Vincent started the game with an impressive display, connecting on four consecutive three-pointers in quick succession.
His fourth trey came with a defender in his face, as Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg attempted to prevent him from getting off a shot. Nonetheless, Vincent managed to regain control after a stumble and swiftly passed the ball to a teammate, only to later reclaim it.
The crowd erupted as they urged him to shoot again, and he obliged, sinking his fifth three-pointer over the outstretched arm of the 6-foot-9 Flagg.
His electric start propelled him to 18 points by the end of the first quarter after hitting all three of his free throw attempts following a foul on his sixth shot from beyond the arc. Ultimately, Vincent finished the game with 22 points, shooting 6-for-15 overall and 6-for-11 from three-point range, contributing to the Lakers’ overall score in a challenging 121-94 defeat against Dallas, which saw them drastically outscored 37-8 in the fourth quarter.
Team Contributions and Injuries
The Lakers’ starting lineup included Rui Hachimura, who added 19 points, and Jaxson Hayes, who finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. However, the game took a hit when Jarred Vanderbilt left the match early due to a left quad contusion after colliding with a Mavericks player. Before his exit late in the second quarter, Vanderbilt managed to score five points and grab seven rebounds.
In contrast, the starters from the Lakers’ previous game against the Phoenix Suns – which featured stars like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves – sat out this matchup against the Mavericks, a team that Doncic previously played for. Lakers coach JJ Redick later confirmed that Bronny James also did not play due to a sprained ankle.
Looking Ahead
As the Lakers prepare to wrap up their preseason against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, it appears that their core players, including Doncic, will participate in that game as a final tune-up before the regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Redick indicated that a more complete lineup would take the court for a dress rehearsal to fine-tune teamwork ahead of their season start.
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