Tonight, the energy inside Crypto.com Arena was different from the moment the visitors walked in. Of course, since the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade last offseason, matches between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks have an extra edge to them, and warmups were thick with the weight of the history between the two sides of the ball. Then, one moment broke that tension.

As players from both sides began getting into position for tipoff, Anthony Davis stood a few feet ahead of the scorer’s table, waiting for his teammates to get ready. LeBron James, Davis’s former teammate, passed by him and playfully bumped the Mavs forward with the side of his waist.

The cameras caught the exchange and the look on both of their faces: all smiles. It was just a second, but in the aftermath of a

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