The arena shook with "LUKA! LUKA!" chants as the Mavs ran out, Doncic leading the way, grinning like he owned the place. Lin Mo's throat went dry. He touched the thimble, cool against his skin.
First possession: Doncic at the top, screen from Gobert. Lin Mo hedged, but Doncic didn't drive—he paused, smiled, and hit Hardy in the corner for a 3. Swish.
"Told you he's patient," LeBron said, clapping Lin Mo's back.
But patience turned to dominance. Doncic spent the first quarter picking apart the Lakers' defense like a tailor undoing a bad stitch: a bounce pass through Davis' legs to Williams, a lob to Gobert over Lin Mo's outstretched hands, a step-back 3 over Russell when the Lakers switched.
Lin Mo's plan unraveled. He'd focused so hard on Doncic's shot that he forgot the passes, letting Hardy and Williams feast from deep. By the end of the first, Mavs led 32-21, Doncic with 8 assists, 0 points.
"He's not even trying to score," Russell muttered.
"That's the point," Lin Mo said, jaw tight. "He's making us chase everyone else."
Second quarter: Doncic turned up the scoring. He iso'd Lin Mo, dribbling slowly, then—right foot heel-first—pulled up for a 3. Lin Mo jumped too late, the ball sailing in. Then he drove left, Lin Mo lunging, and dished to Gobert for a dunk. 12 points in 4 minutes.
Halftime: Mavs 65, Lakers 51. Doncic had 18-8-6. In the locker room, Lin Mo stared at his shoes. The gold thread on his scratch looked faded.
"I'm playing his game," he said.
Coach slammed his clipboard. "Then change the game! Push the pace. Make him chase you."
Third quarter: Lin Mo tried. He pushed the break after a rebound, feeding Russell for a layup. Then he stole a lazy pass from Doncic—left eyebrow twitching, he'd telegraphed it—and hit LeBron for a 3. The lead shrank to 7.
But Doncic just adjusted. He started calling for screens earlier, forcing Davis to switch onto him, and Davis, still nursing his ankle, couldn't keep up. A hook shot, a fadeaway, a 3—Doncic's scoring spree stretched the lead back to 15.
Fourth quarter: Lin Mo fouled out with 5 minutes left, his fifth on a questionable block call. He watched from the bench as Doncic iced the game with a no-look pass to Kleber, the ball threading through three defenders.
Final score: Mavs 121, Lakers 108.
In the tunnel, Doncic passed him, and Lin Mo's throat tightened. "Nice effort, rook," Doncic said, grinning.
Lin Mo didn't reply. He just touched the thimble, its edges digging into his finger. The first stitch had come loose. But loose threads could be retied.