NBA: Luka Doncic gets hurt, Dallas Mavericks still top Phoenix Suns

Basketball
Published 27.01.2023
NBA: Luka Doncic gets hurt, Dallas Mavericks still top Phoenix Suns

Spencer Dinwiddie scored a season-high 36 factors because the visiting Dallas Mavericks overcame an early harm to star Luka Doncic to beat the Phoenix Suns 99-95 on Thursday night time.

Dorian Finney-Smith had 18 factors and 12 rebounds, Dwight Powell added 15 factors, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 11, and Reggie Bullock had 10 for Dallas, which snapped the Suns’ four-game successful streak.

Doncic, who entered the night time because the NBA’s main scorer at 33.8 factors per recreation, exited early within the first quarter resulting from a sprained left ankle and didn’t return. X-rays had been adverse.

Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson led Phoenix with 22 factors apiece, whereas Deandre Ayton had 19 factors and 20 rebounds after lacking the final three video games resulting from a non-COVID sickness. Mikal Bridges scored 16 factors and Paul tallied 10 assists.

Phoenix trailed by 9 with 3:34 remaining earlier than slicing the deficit to 96-95 on Paul’s layup with 19.7 seconds remaining.

Bullock then made the primary of two foul photographs earlier than lacking the second try. Powell was fouled whereas grabbing the rebound and knocked down two free throws to safe the victory.

Dinwiddie helped the Mavericks win for simply the third time in 10 video games whereas taking pictures 5 of 6 from 3-point vary and 11 of 14 from the foul line. The veteran level guard additionally contributed six rebounds and 9 assists.

Dinwiddie scored 10 factors within the first quarter, which ended with the groups tied at 32. Phoenix trailed by two late within the second interval earlier than Dallas scored 9 of the ultimate 14 factors to take a 54-48 lead into the half.

The Mavericks maintained their lead all through the third quarter thanks largely to Dinwiddie, who scored 10 factors for the third straight interval.

Dallas held a seven-point benefit to start out the fourth quarter and stretched its result in 89-81 on Finney-Smith’s trey with 6:55 remaining.

The Suns trailed by 9 late within the fourth quarter earlier than scoring 5 fast factors to drag inside 95-91 with 2:47 left, establishing the tight end.