After first round despair against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers are back to the drawing board to get over the hump. This can either become the beginning of Luka Dončić’s Laker era or a wasted championship window.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly linked to Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton. Claxton, 26, finished the 2024-25 season averaging 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 56.

The game will be the first against Doncic and the Lakers since his emotional return to American Airlines Center on April 9. The Mavericks and Lakers have recently become one of the NBA’s marquee matchups since Doncic was stunningly traded on Feb. 1 in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.