NBA roundup: Doncic shines in return, Mavs handle Spurs

[December 27, 2019]  Luka Doncic scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and distributed eight assists in his return to the lineup after missing four games to help the Dallas Mavericks hold off the visiting San Antonio Spurs 102-98 on Thursday.

Dallas led by five points entering the fourth quarter and by just 82-79 after a layup by the Spurs' Patty Mills with 10:11 to play. However, the Mavericks turned up the heat. Kristaps Porzingis made consecutive 3-pointers, and Dallas later went on a 14-2 run that featured two treys by Dorian Finney-Smith and one apiece from Delon Wright and Jalen Brunson, stretching their margin to 17 points.

The Spurs made a final surge, scoring the final 13 points of the game, but they could not climb all the way back, falling to their Lone Star State rivals for the second time in two meetings this season.

Doncic, who had been out with an ankle injury, picked up right where he left off, leading the Mavericks with 13 first-half points. Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 17 points for Dallas, which has won nine of its past 13 games. San Antonio got 21 points from DeMar DeRozan and 18 from Rudy Gay.

Minnesota Timberwolves 105 - Sacramento Kings 104 (2 OT)

Gorgui Dieng recorded season highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Minnesota snapped an 11-game losing streak with a double-overtime victory over host Sacramento.
 

Robert Covington had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won for the first time since Nov. 27. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points on just 4-of-19 shooting but also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Sacramento's Buddy Hield had his last-second 3-point attempt bounce off the rim as the Kings lost their fifth straight game. De'Aaron Fox departed less than two minutes into the game due to back spasms for the Kings, who also lost Marvin Bagley III to a left foot injury in the third quarter after he scored 18 points in 20 minutes.

New York Knicks 94 - Brooklyn Nets 82

Julius Randle scored 33 points as New York pulled away in the second half to top host Brooklyn.

The Knicks halted a four-game losing streak to the Nets and improved to 4-6 under interim coach Mike Miller in a game they led by as many as 23 points.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 25 points for the Nets, who shot 26.9 percent from the floor. The shooting percentage was the lowest by a team in a game since the Chicago Bulls shot 25.7 percent in a 88-65 playoff loss to the Miami Heat on May 13, 2013. The last time a team shot as poorly in a regular-season game was when the Orlando Magic hit 24.6 percent in an 87-56 road loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 23, 2012.

Detroit Pistons 132 - Washington Wizards 102

Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) shoots as San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (12) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Wood scored 22 points off the bench, Tim Frazier had 17 points and six assists and host Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak by blasting Washington.

Derrick Rose contributed 15 points and six assists, Blake Griffin had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Andre Drummond supplied 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons. Bruce Brown and Svi Mykhailiuk added 12 points apiece, and Tony Snell chipped in 10.

Anzejs Pasecniks topped the Wizards with 17 points, while Bradley Beal and Jordan McRae had 15 points apiece. Troy Brown Jr. contributed 13 points, and Gary Payton II, signed less than a week ago, added 10 points.

Memphis Grizzlies 110 - Oklahoma City Thunder 97

Frontcourt mates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 41 points, the Memphis bench added 46, and a strong second half powered the Grizzlies to a win at Oklahoma City.

Jackson continued his hot scoring touch of late, posting 20 points for his 13th 20-plus-point outing of the season. Valanciunas scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, including three straight buckets in a stretch that pushed the Memphis lead from 12 to 20 points.

Oklahoma City, which came in on a four-game winning streak and a winner of seven of nine, was led by Chris Paul, who posted game highs of 23 points and 11 assists.

Utah Jazz 121 - Portland Trail Blazers 115

Donovan Mitchell scored 16 of his 35 points in the third quarter, and Joe Ingles added 26 as Utah continued its home prowess by holding on for a victory against Portland in Salt Lake City.

Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 15 rebounds as the Jazz improved to 12-3 at home. Utah bounced back from a defeat Monday at Miami that ended its five-game winning streak.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points for the Trail Blazers, finding his shooting touch after going 0-for-10 from 3-point range in a home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. Lillard was 10 of 21 from the field Thursday and 7 of 13 from long distance. CJ McCollum contributed 25 points for Portland.

(Field Level Media)

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