American Airlines Center shook with noise—"LUKA! MVP!"—as Doncic jogged out, pounding his chest, feeding off the crowd like a starved man. Lin Mo's ears rang, but he touched the thimble, grounding himself.
First quarter: Doncic came out swinging. He hit a 3 on the first possession, then a step-back over Lin Mo, then a no-look pass to Gobert. The crowd erupted, and the Mavs led 14-2 before Coach called a timeout.
"Calm down!" Coach yelled, slamming his clipboard. "He's trying to rattle you! Stick to the plan!"
Lin Mo closed his eyes, breathing slow. Heel-first on the 3, left eyebrow twitch on the pass. Same tells.
Second possession after timeout: Doncic iso'd Lin Mo, between-the-legs crossover—right foot heel-first—and Lin Mo stayed low, swatting the shot. Breakaway, LeBron dunk, crowd silent for a second.
Lin Mo grinned. Bluff called.
First quarter ended: Mavs 31, Lakers 28. Doncic had 15, but Lin Mo had 2 steals, 3 assists.
Second quarter: Crowd back to roaring, Doncic hitting another 3. But the Lakers stayed steady: Lin Mo pushing pace, Davis dominating the paint, Russell draining threes. Lead tied at halftime, 59-59.
Third quarter: Doncic turned up the physicality, shoving Lin Mo on a screen, trash-talking: "You think you can stop me in my house?" Lin Mo didn't reply—he just stole the ball on the next play, feeding Davis for a dunk.
"Actions speak louder," LeBron said, clapping him on the back.
Fourth quarter: Tied 95, 2 minutes left. Doncic iso'd Lin Mo, crowd on their feet. He dribbled slow, then—between-the-legs crossover, right foot toe-first—drove left. Lin Mo cut him off, forcing a pass to Hardy, who missed. Rebound LeBron, timeout Lakers, 20 seconds left.
Coach drew up a play: Lin Mo at the top, screen Davis, iso Doncic. "Take him," Coach said.
Lin Mo nodded. Inbounds to LeBron, who passed to Lin Mo. Doncic squared up, grinning. Lin Mo dribbled left, then crossed over right—mimicking Edwards' move from the Wolves series—and Doncic stumbled. Lin Mo drove, elevated, and laid it in—left hand, soft off the glass—with 3 seconds left.
Mavs timeout. Doncic's last shot: 3-pointer, clangs off the rim.
Final score: Lakers 97, Mavs 95.
In the tunnel, Doncic stared at him, no grin this time. "That was lucky."
Lin Mo touched the thimble. "No. It was practice