LeBron Leads Comeback as Lakers Defeat Mavericks, 114-103

It was a rough night for the state of Texas. 

LeBron James scored 28 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, 114-103, on Friday night at Staples Center.

Dallas started out hot, outscoring the Lakers 32-22 in the first quarter. Los Angeles trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, but mounted a comeback on the Mavericks in the second half.

LeBron took responsibilty for the team's slow start, calling himself "horrendous," after committing four turnovers and two fouls in the first few minutes of the first quarter. 

"That was all my wrongdoing," said James after the game. "I wasn't as engaged as I should have been to start the game, and it resulted in us not having a very good first quarter at all."

James came back into the game in the second quarter, renergized and refocused as he helped guide the Lakers to a second half comeback.

Six different players scored in double-figures for the Lakers as they pulled away late in the game with a 15-3 run that included nine points by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. 

Caldwell-Pope and Tyson Chandler each had 13 points off the bench for the Lakers. 

Brandon Ingram scored 19, Kyle Kuzma chipped in 15, and Lonzo Ball had 10 points, but most of his imprint was on the defensive end as he recorded five steals.

"I was just trying to play with energy like I always do," said Ball of his defensive effort. "I'm the first guy when it comes to defense because I pick up [full court] most of the time. I just try to play with energy and the other guys usually follow." 

Los Angeles recaptured the lead, 61-60, midway through the third quarter and never looked back, outscoring the Mavs, 61-45, in the second half.

"We got down early and wasn't playing defense," continued Ball. "We picked it up on defense, got a lot more physical and took them off their spots and got back in the game."

James finished with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists. 

"I hit the reset button," said James of why he played better in the second half. "I'm my own biggest critic. I know what kind of first quarter I had and it resulted in us playing poor basketball. I just hit the reset button and knew I was going to be much better."

Harrison Barnes had a game-high 29 for the Mavericks. Dennis Smith Jr. chipped in 13, and Rookie of the Year candidate, Luka Doncic finished with just six points, despite averaging over 19 on the season.

"They made a run, which is going to happen in an NBA game," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle following the loss. "It was a combination of second shots and turnovers that really hurt us. Unfortunately, our bad stretches were longer than our good stretches. It's a disappointing loss."

Dallas was assessed four technical fouls in the game, including three in the fourth quarter, and point guard J.J. Barea was ejected late in the quarter after picking up his second technical foul.

It was the second meeting at Staples Center in less than a month with the Lakers defeating the Mavericks in exhilarating fashion, 114-113, on Halloween night.

The Lakers have now won four consecutive games over the Mavericks.

R.I.P. 41

During the game, Texas resident, George Herbert Walker Bush, who was the 41st president of the United States, died at the age of 94.

Bush passed at 10:10 p.m. Friday night, according to a statement from family spokesman Jim McGrath. 

Star-Studded Night

Boxer Evander Holyfield, reality star Dr. Drew Pinksy, Rapper Macklemore, singers Lionel Richie and Miguel, as well as actors Adam Devine, Andy Garcia, Will Ferrell and Jack Nicholson were all spotted at the game. 

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr. scored 13 points and Wesley Matthews added 11. DeAndre Jordan had 12 rebounds and eight points. ... Dallas started 3 of 6 on 3-pointers and then went 3 of 21 from beyond the arc the rest of the half. ... The 27 3-point attempts in the first half was a season high, surpassing the 26 the Mavs had on Oct. 20 against Minnesota. ... Barnes is averaging 17 points against the Lakers in the first half of games this season.

Lakers: Tyson Chandler (13 points, 12 rebounds) also had a double-double while Lonzo Ball added 10 points. ... Los Angeles had 11 turnovers in the first half, marking the 11th time this season it had 10 or more in the first 24 minutes. ... Kuzma scored 13 points in the third quarter, which is his second most in a quarter this season. He had 14 in the second quarter against San Antonio on Oct. 22.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Remain in Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Sunday.

Lakers: Host Phoenix on Sunday afternoon to cap a stretch of three home games in four days.