Luka Doncic, Mavericks breeze past Spurs

Field Level Media|published: Sat 23rd December, 23:17 2023

Dec 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) defends during the second quarter at American Airlines Center. credits: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Luca Doncic racked up 39 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in just three quarters to lead the help the Dallas Mavericks past the visiting San Antonio Spurs 144-119 on Saturday.

The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak.

They led by just six points at halftime but ran away in the early moments of the third period, scoring 16 of the first 18 points to go ahead 88-68. Grant Williams scored six points and Doncic five in that pivotal stretch as Dallas eventually led by 31 heading into a virtually meaningless final quarter.

San Antonio played without rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out just prior to tipoff with a right ankle sprain. He reportedly stepped on a ball boy's foot in warmups and missed his third game of the season.

Doncic's triple-double was his sixth of the season and 62nd of his career, which is ninth all-time in league history. Six other Dallas players scored in double figures, led by Tim Hardaway Jr.'s 23 points, Dante Exum's 20 and 17 points from A.J. Lawson.

Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Keldon Johnson added 16 points off the bench. Zach Collins and Sandro Mamukelashvili had 14 each and Malaki Branham tallied 12. The Spurs lost their fourth straight game and 22nd in their past 23.

The teams traded baskets during a back-and-forth first quarter. The game was tied at 24 after Devin Vassell's three-point play at the 4:06 mark.

Dallas sprinted away to a 12-0 run that was capped by Dwight Powell's putback layup with 53 seconds remaining before the Mavericks ended the quarter leading 40-29. Powell finished with 14 points.

San Antonio trailed by a dozen points before forging a 12-2 run to close to within 52-50 with 7:18 to play in the second period. The Spurs got as close as a point after a Vassell floating back shot with 3:17 remaining, but Dallas fired back and took a 72-66 advantage into the break.

Doncic led all scorers with 25 points before halftime with Hardaway adding 14 and Lawson 10 for the Mavericks. Sochan paced San Antonio with 15 points while Johnson had 11 and Branham contributed 10.

—Field Level Media

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