Durant’s late bucket lifts Suns past Mavs
DALLAS — Kevin Durant scored 37 points, including the tiebreaking jumper with 11 seconds to go, to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 130-126 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in a thrilling showcase of stars for both teams.
The first meeting between Durant and Dallas' Kyrie Irving since they were traded by Brooklyn before the deadline last month was even when Durant pulled up over Tim Hardaway Jr. and Irving for the lead.
Luka Doncic had 34 points for Dallas, but his point-blank shot for a tie rimmed out before he fouled Durant after the rebound with 3.5 seconds remaining.
After the play was over, Doncic and Devin Booker, who scored 36 points, ended up nose-to-nose and both were issued technical fouls before Durant hit two free throws to clinch the victory.
It was the 14th technical of the season for Doncic, two shy of the threshold for a one-game suspension.
Irving scored 30 points exactly four years to the day since the last time he faced Durant, when his Boston Celtics blew out Durant and his Golden State Warriors 128-95.
Curry returns to Warriors’ lineup
Stephen Curry returned to the Golden State Warriors' lineup Sunday in a 113-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in a nationally televised game.
The All-star guard missed 11 games after a left leg injury on Feb. 4 against the Dallas Mavericks. Golden State was 7-4 during Curry's absence, including wins in its past five games.
Curry scored 27 points in 32 minutes, hitting eight of his 20 shots.
But the Lakers' Anthony Davis stole the show with 39 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and a pair of blocks.
Morant steps away from team
Ja Morant will be away from the Memphis Grizzlies for at least their next two games, the team announced Saturday, not long after the NBA opened an investigation into a social media post by the guard, who livestreamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a nightclub.
Morant said in a statement distributed through the agency that represents him that he takes “full responsibility” for his actions and that he was going to “take some time away to get help.”
The video was streamed by Morant on his Instagram page early Saturday, hours after the Grizzlies played in Denver. They were flying to Los Angeles on Saturday for games against the Clippers on Sunday and the Lakers on Tuesday.
Morant will miss those two games, at minimum, the Grizzlies said, without further comment.
Bucks add depth with G Dragic
The Nba-leading Milwaukee Bucks have signed veteran guard Goran Dragic as they continue adding depth to prepare for the postseason.
Dragic, 36, had averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 15.4 minutes in 51 games with the Chicago Bulls before getting waived on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 guard was an All-star with the Miami Heat in 2018 and a thirdteam ALL-NBA selection with the Phoenix Suns in 2014.
“He's a great point guard, can score and set the table,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Saturday night after his team's 133-130 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. “He's competitive, smart, so we're excited to add him to our group.”
Date set for Mavs vs. Real Madrid
The Mavericks revealed during Friday night's Mavs Ball in the Omni Dallas that their long-rumored exhibition game against Real Madrid will be played Oct. 10 in Madrid's 17,000seat Wizink Center.
Friday's revelation wasn't an official announcement, and not all of the details have been announced. The Mavericksreal Madrid game was part of an Mavs Ball auction-item trip that will include a stopover in Abu Dhabi. The NBA held two exhibition games last October in Abu Dhabi between Milwaukee and Atlanta, the first year of a multiyear contract the league has signed to play games there.
Though the league has not announced this October's opponents in Abu Dhabi, the auction item confirms reports that Dallas will be one of the teams.
The game in Madrid will be a homecoming for Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. He began his pro career in Madrid, playing three seasons (2015-18) for Real Madrid's senior team. Doncic was voted the Final Four Most Valuable Player as Real Madrid won the 2018 championship, weeks before the was selected No. 3 overall in the NBA draft and acquired by the Mavericks.