Doncic back in lineup; Mavs end 3-game skid
LOS ANGELES — It would have been understandable if the Dallas Mavericks folded in overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers after blowing a 10-point lead.
Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic weren’t about to let that happen, though, and they dominated the final five minutes.
Porzingis scored 30 points, including six in overtime, and Doncic had 26 in his return to the lineup as the Mavericks defeated the Clippers 112-104 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
“For a second you are disappointed because we should have finished them off (in regulation), but I think we are growing mentally as a team,” said Porzingis, who has scored 20 or more points in a careerhigh seven straight games. “We realized it was five more minutes and we went out there and proved we are the superior team.”
The Mavericks were up 102-92 late in the fourth quarter before the Clippers scored 11 of the final 12 points to force overtime, including a 3-pointer by Paul George at the buzzer.
“That second felt like it was forever. Guess I just got free and let it fly,” George said.
Dallas, though, put up the first seven points of overtime and outscored Los Angeles 9-1 to snap a three-game skid that included a six-point loss to the Clippers on Sunday.
Doncic, who missed the past three games due to left knee and ankle sprains, also had nine rebounds and nine assists in 41 minutes.
Dallas trailed by six at halftime but scored 38 points in the third quarter to grab an 80-76 advantage going into the final 12 minutes. Doncic had 15 points in the period and four assists that resulted in 10 additional Mavericks points.
“Overtime in the first game back? That’s tough. But we got the win and I am happy,” Doncic said.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd was happy with the way his two stars played, especially Porzingis, who made all 10 of his free throws in 40 minutes of action.
“He’s playing at a very high level. He didn’t force anything. Sometimes when a star player comes back others might change their game but he didn’t,” Kidd said. “Luca’s prep work the past two days was at a high level. He has a great feel and there’s a big trust that the other guys were going to make plays.”
Reggie Jackson led the Clippers with 31 points, his most in 2 ½ seasons with the team. George scored 26.
The teams were facing each other for the second time in three days and things got chippy at times. Doncic received a technical foul late in the first quarter for taunting Terance Mann. The two teams — who don’t meet again until February — don’t have many warm feelings toward each other after a contentious firstround playoff series last season that the Clippers won in seven games.
Jokic misses third consecutive game
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic did not play in Denver’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a right wrist sprain, the team announced.
Jokic, who had missed the last two games dealing with the wrist injury, took to the court in Portland for warmups but was later ruled out.
The Blazers won the game, 119-100, behind a 32-point performance from CJ Mccollum. Jeff Green led Denver with 24 points, which was dominated 28-2 in fast-break points and struggled with turnovers as well, notching 19 of them.
Rose, Robinson, Gibson sidelined
New York played without backup point guard Derrick Rose and injured centers Mitchell Robinson and Taj Gibson Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rose, 33, had played in every game this season, averaging 12 points, 3.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Without Rose, the Knicks turned to rookie guard Immanuel Quickley to provide more offensive help off the bench.
Coach Tom Thibodeau labeled all their recoveries day-by-day, but was optimistic Robinson will play Friday against Phoenix after sustaining the concussion over the weekend because of a blow to the face.
Thibodeau said Robinson, out with a concussion, is doing better but still has to clear the league’s protocols before he can return.
It was second consecutive absences for Robinson and Gibson (groin), leaving the center rotation in flux beyond starter Nerlens Noel.