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The Los Angeles Lakers hung on to defeat the New York Knicks in overtime 113-109 to extend their win streak to eight games as Jalen Brunson suffered an ankle injury late in the contest.
That has made the fan base somewhat conspiracy-minded. A notable theory that has sprung up amongst that fanbase in recent years is that opponents are so determined to beat them that injured players intentionally target Laker games for their returns.
Former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban said the team could have gotten a better return in the deal that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers.
Look, the Lakers have won five straight with Luka in the lineup, 12 of 14 overall, and the defense has been off the charts as they've rocket-shot all the way into the West's No. 2 seed, so let's keep this all in proper perspective. But ... have you seen Dončić's shooting numbers since he arrived in L.A.?
The Lakers are on the rise while things have quickly gone south for the Mavericks. Breaking down the West one month post-trade deadline.
Coming off a stellar game against Denver, Luka Dončić now eyes a repeat performance against the Mavericks team that traded him.