Anthony Davis is a well-known rebounder and scorer already. The All-Star center for the Los Angeles Lakers is starting to demonstrate that he is becoming a skilled passer.

On Wednesday evening, the Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 127-110, thanks in part to Luka Doncic’s triple-double. Davis finished with nine assists, one shy of recording his second triple-double in three games.

“He’s learning from me how to pass out of the post,” said LeBron James with a huge grin after he had 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Lakers win for the fourth time in six games. “He’s been working on it and it’s great. Teams are going to stop doubling him soon. As long as we make shots out there for him. It’s our job to make sure we are in the right position at the right time when he gets doubled.”

In 33 minutes, Davis finished with 12 rebounds, 12 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and 12 assists.

Over his 12-year career, the center has averaged 2.4 assists per game; but, in four of the last five games, he has had five or more assists. He had a career-high 11 Saturday in a win over the Utah Jazz as he recorded his second triple-double.

“When guys are open, we’re throwing them the ball and tell them to shoot it,” Davis said. “It’s not like we’re going out and being selfish with the shots. We’re having fun while we’re doing it and making the right plays.”

The 28 Lakers points were the result of Davis’ nine assists. The main winner was D’Angelo Russell, who scored eight of his team-high 29 points off passes from Davis.

For the seventh game this season, Russell led the Lakers in scoring and finished with five 3-pointers.

Doncic recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in 33 minutes to record his eighth triple-double of the year and 63rd overall. Doncic had missed three games due to an injured right ankle.

On the other hand, Doncic was 2 of 9 from the outside.

“First game back was tough with the legs. I thought a lot of 3s were going in and they didn’t,” he said.

Doncic wasn’t the only player to struggle from beyond the arc. Dallas was 11 of 40 on 3-pointers as Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kyrie Irving combined to go 3 of 21.

“We generated a lot of wide open looks and they didn’t drop for us,” coach Jason Kidd said. “They made it a point to have pace and took advantage of the misses. When you miss open shots against a team like that, they are going to make you pay.”

Los Angeles, who tied the game with a record of 21–21, had 12 3-pointers and shot 53.8% from the field (49 for 91). Additionally, it led in fast-break points, 32–7.

The Mavericks fell to 5-4 in January, despite 16 points and 11 rebounds from Dereck Lively II.

Up 55–53 at the break, the Lakers took the lead in the third quarter. Two minutes into the quarter, Los Angeles led 62-59. Over the following five minutes, the team went on a 27-8 run, during which Russell scored 10 points.

In the fourth quarter, the Lakers’ greatest lead was 24 points.

“Usually when you play good defense, it triggers good offense. Everyone was having that sense of urgency to be in attack mode,” coach Darvin Ham said. “We have to bottle it up and continue to work at it and sustain what we do well.”