The Luka Dončić trade continues to confound folks in the NBA world, particularly after he returned to Dallas on Wednesday night and torched the Mavericks to the tune of 45 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-97 win.

Luka Doncic made his first return to the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night since the dumb decision to trade him in February, and he led the LA Lakers to a 112-97 win over his former Dallas Mavericks.

In his return to Dallas, Luka Dončić scores a season-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win that clinched a playoff berth

The Mavericks are hosting Dončić and the Lakers for the first time since the stunning trade, giving Dallas fans their first chance to see their franchise's former star player back at American Airlines Center. Dončić squared off with his former team in February in L.A., posting a 19-point triple-double in a Lakers win.

First, it was Luka Doncic's first game back in Dallas since the trade. Second, it was Anthony Davis' first game against his former team since the trade. Doncic rose to the moment despite fighting emotions.

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.

SportsLine's model simulated Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Luka Doncic's return to Dallas on Wednesday

Following the contest, Lakers head coach JJ Redick referred to Doncic as "superhuman" while discussing his performance. After everything Doncic has gone through over the last few months, Reddick was happy he was able to put on that type of show.

Davis has started to look more like his old self as he continues to recover from the adductor injury that sidelined him earlier. Over his first seven games in Dallas, the 32-year-old has been productive, averaging 20.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field in just under 29 minutes.

When the Mavericks hosted the Lakers for the first time since they traded Luka Doncic, one person who seemed especially emotional was Mark Cuban.