PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Luka Doncic had 15 factors, 10 rebounds and 15 assists for his sixth triple-double this season, and the Dallas Mavericks led wire-to-wire in a 132-112 victory over the Portland Path Blazers on Wednesday night time.
It was Doncic’s franchise-leading forty second profession triple double. He’s one away from matching Fats Lever for tenth on the NBA all-time checklist.
“Every thing begins with Luka Doncic,” mentioned Kristaps Porzingis, who had 22 factors for the Mavs. “Every thing turns into a lot simpler with him on the court docket.”
Jalen Brunson added 20 factors and 11 assists for Dallas, which led by as many as 23 factors and had seven gamers end in double figures.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 23 factors and CJ McCollum added 20.
Each groups have been enjoying the second sport of a back-to-back. The Mavericks fell 130-92 to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night time — a loss that stung as a result of Tim Hardaway Jr. fractured a bone in his left foot throughout the second quarter.
There isn't a timeline for Hardaway’s return, the crew mentioned Wednesday. Coach Jason Kidd mentioned that whereas the crew will miss Hardaway, who was averaging 14.2 factors off the bench, “we’ve received some guys over there who need to play so it is a good time for them.”
The Blazers have been coming off a disheartening 109-107 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday night time, by which Portland led for the higher a part of three quarters, however in the end fell quick.
“Typically the schedule might help you or harm you,” Kidd mentioned. “This time it helped us by having a sport the place we didn’t have to sit down round and have a look at one another after final night time’s efficiency.”
Doncic’s deep 3-pointer put the Mavericks up 30-15 and Dallas held a 40-25 lead after the opening quarter.
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The Mavericks stretched the result in as many as 18 factors however the Blazers closed the hole to 65-58 late within the half on Jusuf Nurkic’s layup.
Porzingis had 14 factors within the first interval alone, matching his excessive for 1 / 4 this season.
“We simply wished to ensure we have been those to come back out and punch, and that’s what we did early on and it type of set the tone for the remainder of the sport,” Porzingis mentioned.
The Blazers pressured Dallas within the third quarter. Simon’s dunk off a lob from McCollum received Portland inside 78-74 — however that was as shut because it received. Dallas led 98-81 going into the fourth quarter.
“I feel guys are combating and competing exhausting, whether or not there’s errors or not. We’re making an attempt to be aggressive. We’re making an attempt to determine it out, and we’re going to proceed try this and play the appropriate manner, and reside with the outcomes,“ mentioned Norman Powell, who completed with 19 factors for Portland.
The Blazers’ protection was harm by the absences of Nassir Little (shoulder) and Robert Covington (proper knee).
“We missed them a ton,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups mentioned. “Acquired off to such a troublesome begin. You surrender 40 factors within the first quarter, it’s actually robust to soak up that sort of quarter. However I assumed we got here again within the second quarter and we received again in it. Simply combating uphill all night time.”
TIP INS
Mavericks: It was the second of three conferences between the 2 groups this season. Dallas received the primary, 132-117 on Dec. 27.
Path Blazers: Powell began towards the Mavs after his minutes have been restricted the night time earlier than. Powell missed the earlier eight video games due to COVID-19 protocols and undisclosed private issues.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host Indiana on Saturday.
Path Blazers: Open a four-game highway journey on Friday at Houston.
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