Dončić led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday's Western Conference showdown. It was his first game back in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him to the Lakers in a shocking deal, and he reminded them what they are missing in resounding fashion.

DALLAS — As the Los Angeles Lakers took the court for pregame warmups Wednesday, the crowd at American Airlines Center loudly cheered for the visitors. Luka Dončić jogged toward the basket the Lakers were shooting on and casually floated a basketball off the shot clock buzzer, and it fell through the net.

Most of the time in the modern NBA, when a star returns to his previous arena, he faces a hostile crowd because he chose to leave. That wasn't the case for Luka Dončić. By all accounts, the five-time All-NBA point guard planned to sign a super max extension with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.

Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to his 45-point performance in his first game back in Dallas since being traded.

Follow live as Luka Dončić returns to face the Mavericks for the first time since Dallas traded him to the Lakers two months ago.

Luka Doncic entered the court with the Los Angeles Lakers for his first game back in Dallas to cheers in an arena where draped over every seat was a T-shirt with the Slovenian phrase for thank you for everything.

Dallas were welcoming Slovenian-born superstar Luka Dončić as part of the visiting team or thanking him for 6 ½ years of service that are now over. But that exact scenario is playing out on Wednesday,

Luka Doncic returned to Dallas as a Los Angeles Laker on Wednesday. Despite the fans' outrage over the blockbuster trade that led to his departure, he was met with gratitude from Dallas supporters. While some fans felt betrayed by the trade,

Luka Dončić returned to Dallas Wednesday night for the first time since he was traded by the Mavericks to the Lakers, and he was emotional.

Dončić has a pretty well-known history of trash-talking fans who talk to him. A few weeks ago, for instance, he was caught on camera jawing with a fan who said "ball don't lie" when he went to the free-throw line.

Dončić was hit with the foul after an official thought he made a comment toward him. He was talking to a fan instead.

Luka Doncic was ejected from the Lakers' loss to Oklahoma City, but the NBA has rescinded his second technical foul. What to know about the decision.