Luka Doncic had 33 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds and the host Dallas Mavericks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 107-98 on Friday.
It was the eighth triple-double of the season and the 44th of Doncic’s career. The guard tied his season high for assists.
Reggie Bullock added 20 points, Jalen Brunson contributed 19 and Dwight Powell had 14 for Dallas. Dorian Finney-Smith also chipped in with 13.
The Mavericks played without Kristaps Porzingis for the third straight game, as he has a bone bruise on his right knee.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 27 points and 13 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey added 18 points and Tobias Harris had 13. Georges Niang also contributed 13 and Seth Curry had 11.
In a bizarre scene, the game was delayed for 45 minutes with 6:03 remaining in the first quarter due to a crooked rim. Doncic hit a 3-pointer then pointed to the referees regarding the rim. After a quick check by maintenance workers, a new basket stanchion was brought in to replace the original one.
The Sixers bolted to a 40-24 lead early in the second quarter and held on for a 63-53 advantage at halftime. Embiid led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds before the break.
Doncic paced the Mavericks with 15 first-half points.
Dallas came out aggressive in the third and quickly closed within 68-67 when Powell dropped in two free throws with 8:08 left.
The Mavericks tied the game at 76 when Doncic completed a three-point play with 3:36 to go. Bullock drained a trey on their next possession for a three-point lead.
The Sixers looked out of sync on offense for most of the third and trailed 85-78 at the end of the quarter. Doncic scored 11 points in the third.
Maxey hit a pair of free throws on the Sixers’ first possession of the fourth. Niang added a short runner in the lane, Maxey made a difficult layup, and the deficit was one with 9:26 remaining.
Niang then hit a 3-pointer, Danny Green drove to the basket and scored and the Sixers capped an 11-0 run to lead 89-85.
Bullock hit consecutive 3-pointers and the Mavericks went back ahead 96-91 with 5:25 to go.
Doncic’s three-point play with 1:39 left gave the Mavericks a 103-96 advantage.
–Field Level Media
