How many points did LeBron James score tonight against Dallas Mavericks? (April 9)

LeBron James and the LA Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-97 on Wednesday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

James finished with 27 points on 11-for-20 shooting. He also had seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 36 minutes. He missed four 3-point attempts but went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

James' co-star, Luka Doncic, battled his former team for the first time since being traded on Feb. 2. Doncic led the Lakers with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals on 16-for-28 shooting, including 7-for-10 from the 3-point line.

The Lakers are No. 3 in the Western Conference with a 49-31 record. They are three and a half games behind the second-seeded Houston Rockets and have a one-and-a-half-game lead over the four-way tie between the LA Clippers, the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies.

James appeared in the 69th game of his 22nd NBA season. He is averaging 24.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.3 assists. In 35.1 minutes per game, he shoots 51.2%, including 38.1% from the 3-point line.

On Wednesday, James had four points, a rebound, an assist and a turnover in the first quarter. He scored his points via four made free throws, as he missed his lone shot attempt. He was on the floor for a little over eight minutes.

James had recorded eight points, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in the first half. He shot 2-for-7 (0-for-2 on 3-pointers) in 18:20 minutes.

In the crucial third quarter, James had six points on 3-for-3 shooting. He also contributed two rebounds, an assist and a steal in nearly seven minutes. The Lakers had a seven-point lead heading into the final period, 83-76.

James had 13 points and three rebounds on 6-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers pull away with the victory. He played 36:17 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back.

LeBron James' stats tonight

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
LeBron James	27	7	3	1	0	2	11-20	0-4	5-6	18

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LeBron James shares thoughts on Luka Doncic's Dallas homecoming

On Wednesday, LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the LA Lakers visited the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a back-to-back. Following Tuesday's 136-120 loss to the NBA-leading OKC Thunder, James shared his thoughts on Doncic's Dallas homecoming.

The four-time NBA champion compared Doncic's return to when he first visited Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat.

"His situation will be a lot different than mine," James said.

In James' first game against the Cleveland Cavaliers over 14 years ago, he was loudly booed and even named a "villain." Like Doncic's return, that game was much anticipated then.

However, the situation was certainly different with Doncic as Mavs fans cheered their former franchise superstar every time the 26-year-old touched the ball early in the game. This reception was consistent with the reactions following the blockbuster trade in February.

Many fans cried and rallied on the streets to criticize the Mavs' front office and general manager, Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic held his tears as an emotional video tribute was played before he was announced as a starter for the Lakers.