CNN
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Luka Doncić scored 35 factors, together with a clutch three-pointer with lower than 30 seconds remaining, to offer the Dallas Mavericks a 103-101 win over the LA Clippers regardless of blowing a 25-point lead.
The Slovenian star was so puffed up after dropping the game-winning bucket that he by chance celebrated by placing his finger to his mouth and “hushing” his personal Mavericks dwelling assist.
“I wished a celebration,” Doncić after the sport. “I’m not going to shush our followers, so I don’t know why I did that.”
Maybe it wasn’t his finest celebration, however his efficiency was price shouting about. “Luka Magic” additionally had 11 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals, making each certainly one of his 11 free throws alongside the best way.
But when it wasn’t for the 23-year-old’s heroics, the Mavericks might have misplaced a sport that they led for nearly the entire sport earlier than throwing away their benefit.
Up towards an injury-hit Clippers group – together with Kawhi Leonard who’s managing a knock to his knee – the Mavericks took a 15 level first-quarter lead. Doncić’s dominance within the paint, coupled with Dorian Finney-Smith’s – who ended with 21 factors on 7-of-13 from the three-point line – hazard from deep, gave the house group a 54-32 halftime lead.
However the Clippers fought again. John Wall, who completed with 17 factors and 6 rebounds, began the second half and helped spark a comeback. Alongside Paul George who ended with 23 factors and Nicolas Batum – who sunk all seven of his three-pointers – the Clippers ended a 30-point swing with eight minutes on the clock to take a five-point lead.
Impressed by Reggie Bullock – who scored all 4 of his triples within the closing quarter – the Mavericks introduced the sport to inside a degree earlier than Doncić stepped up.
With 30 seconds left on the clock, Doncić picked up a free ball and, below strain, drained a fadeaway, 29-foot triple to offer the Mavs a 102-98 lead.
Batum went up the opposite finish and drew a foul, scoring his first free throw and lacking the second on objective, however he couldn’t acquire the rebound because the Mavericks sealed the win taking them to 8-5 this season.
“We’re giving up plenty of large leads, similar to we drew it up,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned after the sport.
“That third quarter – we simply missed photographs and we didn’t defend. Give the Clippers credit score. They got here out within the second half and put plenty of strain on us. I believed the group dealt with the scenario with grace within the sense of issues weren’t going our means. However we didn’t self-destruct. We simply stayed collectively and located a means.”
Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings racked up a staggering tally as they thrashed the Brooklyn Nets 153-121 for his or her fourth win in a row.
Terrence Davis scored 31 factors and grabbed 9 rebounds from the bench and starters Domantis Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox and Kevin Heurter all hit double figures because the Kings humiliated the Nets.
Brooklyn was as soon as once more taking part in with out Kyrie Irving, who was suspended by the group after he doubled down on his resolution to share a hyperlink to a documentary criticized as antisemitic to his thousands and thousands of social media followers.
Nets star Kevin Durant dropped 27 factors for the guests, however the guests have been powerless defensively, permitting essentially the most factors in a regulation sport in Nets historical past.
“They made photographs,” Durant mentioned because the Nets slipped to 6-9 on the yr. “That’s demoralizing while you see groups making photographs. It’s not like we didn’t attempt. They have been higher than us.”
