It would be easy for Luka Dončić to say that Tuesday's game was cathartic, that seeing and slaying his old mates wearing Dallas Mavericks jerseys would be enough to cleanse himself of all the hurt feelings from being dumped,

Luka Dončić was a member of the Dallas Mavericks less than a month ago. The widespread presumption at the time was that he would remain one for the foreseeable future, perhaps even the rest of his career.

Everything before Tuesday’s game helped to build anticipation for Dončić’s star power in L.A., from a timely Jordan Brand ad to a new shoe.