Mavs end Nets’ 8- game run as Porzingis returns, Irving sits
NEW YORK — Luka Doncic scored 27 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 18 in his return from injury and the Dallas Mavericks snapped the Brooklyn Nets’ eightgame winning streak with a 115- 98 victory Saturday night.
James Harden had 29 points for the Nets, but only four after halftime while playing as Brooklyn’s solo superstar. Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game with a left hamstring strain and Kyrie Irving rested his surgically repaired right shoulder.
That took more than 56 points per game away from the NBA’s highest- scoring team and Brooklyn couldn’t keep up with a Dallas club that shot 52% from the field.
Porzingis missed last three games with lower back tightness and shook off his rust after halftime to help Dallas break open the game.
Leading by four at halftime, the Mavericks came out for the third quarter focused on throwing the ball inside to the 7- foot- 3 Latvian, who has 7 inches on any starter in the Nets’ small- ball starting lineup. He responded with 10 points in the quarter, including a three- point play that capped an 11- 2 spurt and pushed Dallas’ lead to 85- 74.
It became 91- 76 when Dorian Finney- Smith blocked Harden’s shot to lead to Tim Hardaway Jr.’ s basket. Dallas put it away with 12 straight points early in the fourth, making it 106- 84 and soon after Harden was removed for good.
Jalen Brunson scored 14 points for the Mavericks, who split games against the East’s top teams after losing at Philadelphia on Thursday, when they committed a season- high 22 turnovers. They had only nine Saturday.
Doncic and Harden each scored 15 points in the first quarter, but the Mavs gave more help to their point guard and led 38- 26 after shooting 61%. Brooklyn cut it to 68- 64 at halftime, when Harden had 25.