Luka Doncic scored 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to Los Angeles, helping the Lakers wrap up a playoff spot with a 112-97 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Doncic's emotional return came two months after a seismic trade out of nowhere that sent the five-time All-Star to Los Angeles. The 26-year-old star from Slovenia spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with the Mavericks and still had two seasons left on his contract.

The 45 points matched Doncic's season high - he did that once for Dallas and one other time for the Lakers. He also had eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.

LeBron James had 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers fell behind before a strong finish.

Anthony Davis, who went from the Lakers to Dallas in the Doncic deal, had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Naji Marshall led the Mavs with 23 points and eight assists.

The Lakers remained third in the Western Conference standings after their third game in four days. They came to Dallas after splitting a pair of games at Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City.

Dallas (38-42) is guaranteed a losing record a year after making the NBA Finals but are still in position to finish 10th and make the play-in tournament.

James' three-point play with 8:10 left broke an 87-all tie and put the Lakers ahead to stay, and he added a layup 34 seconds later. That came after Dallas' 15-2 run.

Season-High for Luka pic.twitter.com/eRug6dqTzK
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 10, 2025

Nuggets beat Kings in first game since firing

Nikola Jokic had his 32nd triple-double of the season with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and Denver beat the Sacramento Kings 124-116 in the Nuggets' first game since head coach Michael Malone was fired.

Christian Braun scored 25 points and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. each had 21 to help Denver end a four-game losing streak and complete a season series sweep of Sacramento.

With two regular-season games remaining, the Nuggets (48-32) are tied with the Clippers for the No. 4 playoff seed in the Western Conference.

Malone, the winningest coach in franchise history who guided the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023, was fired Tuesday along with general manager Calvin Booth. David Adelman is serving as Denver's interim coach.

Zach LaVine had 27 points and 11 assists for the Kings, whose three-game winning streak ended. DeMar DeRozan added 22 points for Sacramento, which holds the No. 9 spot in the West.

The Nuggets led by 16 before the Kings made a run and got within 113-108 on Keon Ellis' jumper with 2½ minutes remaining. Jalen Pickett made a mid-range jumper for Denver and Jokic made two free throws to help secure the win.

Taking a W back to Denver#MileHighBasketball | #KeepClimbing pic.twitter.com/JOhC63Bw8S
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 10, 2025

Harden paces surging Clippers

James Harden had 35 points and 10 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the playoff-bound Houston Rockets 134-117 for their sixth straight win.

The Rockets have already locked up the No. 2 seed in the West and will be making their first playoff appearance since the 2020 bubble in Florida. They rested most of their starting lineup, including Dillon Brooks and Alperen Sengun.

Ivica Zubac had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Clippers, his first career triple-double and the third by a center for the team. Kawhi Leonard returned with 22 points and 10 rebounds after sitting out Tuesday to rest his surgically repaired right knee. Nicolas Batum added 15 points, including the Clippers' first 12 of the second quarter, before leaving with a sore right groin.

Reed Sheppard led the six Rockets in double figures with 20 points.

The Clippers made all 19 of their free throws, with Harden going 10 for 10.

CLIPPERS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/jxhacyhyK2
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 10, 2025