MAVS WIN; SURVIVE MILESTONE
Luka Doncic had 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in his return from a 10-game absence and Marquese Criss came off the bench to score a season-high 15 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 95-86 win over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
Mavericks 95, Thunder 86
Doncic played with a long brace on his left knee and saw just over 31 minutes in his first game in 23 days. He was content with setting up teammates for baskets after missing five games with ankle soreness and five more games due to virus health and safety protocols.
“It was hard. The last time I did five-on-five was like four weeks ago,” Doncic said. “Weird feeling, but I’m just really happy to be back. My chest was burning. I think slowly it’s going to come back. When I shot, the feeling was weird. I didn’t know if it was going to go in or out. There was one shot that feels amazing, I said ‘You shot it great and it’s going to go in,’ and it was an air ball.”
The 10-game absence was the longest of Doncic’s career. Coach Jason Kidd thought his performance was solid.
“He almost had a tripledouble in 30 minutes, so I think he did a great job. He’s still trying to get the feel,” Kidd said.
Criss, on his second 10-day contract after joining the Mavericks on Dec. 21, shot 6 of 9 from the field, including three 3-pointers, and had seven rebounds.
Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey, back after three games in the health and safety protocols, had 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for his first triple-double. He is the youngest NBA player to have a tripledouble at 19 years, 2 months, 23 days, beating Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who had a tripledouble at 19 years 10 months, 17 days.
“It’s cool, as I said earlier in the year. The individual stats are good, you enjoy it for the night,” Giddey said “But a win is always better than individual stats. If I have zero-zero-zero and we win, it’s always better
than if I have a triple-double and lose.”
Kidd, who had 107 tripledoubles during his playing career, was impressed by Giddey’s performance.
“He’s unselfish. As a 19-year old, he understands how to play the game,” Kidd said. “He’s comfortable with the ball, his teammates all know that if he has it, they’re gonna cut, because there’s a chance that they can get it. He’s comfortable shooting the 3. He has the total package. At 19, it’s just a matter of time of understanding how teams are going to play him. He’s as good as advertised.”
Lakers 108, Timberwolves 103:
LeBron James scored 26 points, Malik Monk added 22 and host Los Angeles hung on to beat Minnesota for the first time in three meetings this season.
A couple of streaks came to an end in the Lakers’ first game of the new year: James’ run of seven straight games with at least 30 points and Russell Westbrook’s stretch of four straight triple-doubles. Westbrook finished with 20 points, three rebounds and five assists.
Celtics 116, Magic 111 (OT): Jaylen Brown scored a careerhigh 50 points, rallying Boston from 14 points down late in the fourth quarter in an overtime victory over Orlando at home.
Brown scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, then opened OT with his fifth 3pointer. Brown, whose previous career high was 46 against the Knicks on Oct. 20, also had 11 rebounds as the Celtics avoided losing for the fourth time in five games. He was 19 of 29 from the field.
Suns 133, Hornets 99: Devin
Booker scored 24 points, Jalen Smith tied a career high with 19 points and 12 rebounds and short-handed Phoenix hammered host Charlotte.
Raptors 120, Knicks 105:
Fred VanVleet scored 19 of his season-high 35 points in the third quarter, Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Toronto extended its home winning streak against New York to 11 games.
Cavaliers 108, Pacers 104:
Rookie Evan Mobley had 24 points and nine rebounds, Kevin Love scored 20 points and Cleveland beat visiting Indiana to snap a three-game losing streak.
Kings 115, Heat 113:
De’Aaron Fox scored 11 of his 24 points over the final six minutes, including two free throws with 6.2 seconds left, and host Sacramento ended Miami’s five-game winning streak.