Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) runs back after making a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES — Kyrie Irving scored 28 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds to play, and the Dallas Mavericks blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter before rallying back for a 104-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Wednesday night.
LeBron James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and made the tiebreaking tip-in with 1:16 to play for the Lakers, but the NBA career scoring leader also made a turnover with four seconds left and then missed a tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
KYRIE TAKES THE LEAD RIGHT BACK 🗣️
THIS GAME LATE IN Q4 🍿
Mavs-Lakers | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/TaxCZgZFyg pic.twitter.com/gl3d6kYUlh— NBA (@NBA) November 23, 2023
After Luka Doncic and James traded missed 3-point attempts in the final minute, Irving coolly hit his fourth 3-pointer of the night near the Lakers’ bench. Doncic then stole James’ poor pass to the basket, and Irving hit two free throws before James missed another 3-point attempt.
Doncic scored 30 points for the Mavericks, who missed 16 of their 19 shots in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 30-13 in the fourth, but couldn’t turn it into a win.
Anthony Davis had just 10 points and 14 rebounds, going scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Dallas led 91-71 entering the fourth quarter against the step-slow Lakers, but the Mavericks promptly missed their first 11 shots of the final period while James catalyzed a prolonged surge. The Lakers missed four free throws down the stretch that could have made it closer.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, second from left, makes a behind-the-back pass to center Dereck Lively II (2, past Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Josh Green scored 15 points for the Mavericks, who won their fourth consecutive road meeting with the Lakers with another offensive barrage by one of the NBA’s highest-scoring teams
Austin Reaves scored 17 points and D’Angelo Russell had 15 for the Lakers, who had won six of seven over the past two weeks. Los Angeles lost at home for only the second time in nine games this season.
Dallas largely dominated the first three quarters against the step-slow Lakers, who were playing their sixth game in nine days with just nine healthy rotation players.
Dereck Lively had to be helped to Dallas’ locker room in the third quarter after going down hard under the Mavericks’ basket. The 7-foot-1 center bruised his lower back on his fall from contact with Davis, the Mavericks said.
Cam Reddish sat out for the Lakers with groin soreness, joining Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino on the sidelines with injuries.
Max Christie had seven in 23 minutes while making his fourth career start in Reddish’s place.
Dallas’ Maxi Kleber missed his seventh straight with a toe injury. When the Mavericks visited the Lakers last March, Kleber hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Los Angeles 111-110 with Doncic sidelined by injury.
UP NEXT FOR LAKERS, MAVERICKS
Mavericks: At Clippers on Saturday.
Lakers: At Cleveland on Saturday.