DONCIC NETS 53 IN RETURN
Luka Doncic had 53 points in his return to the lineup and Spencer Dinwiddie scored 10 of his 12 in the fourth quarter as the Dallas Mavericks rallied to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-105 on Monday night.
Mavericks 111, Pistons 105
Four of Doncic’s five career 50-point games have come this season. He scored a career-best 60 against the New York Knicks in a game that went to overtime on Dec. 27.
His 53 points tied for second most in Dallas history with Dirk Nowitzki’s total against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2004.
Doncic had 24 points in the first quarter and 18 in the third. Second in the NBA going in with an average of 33 points per game, he returned after spraining his left ankle three-plus minutes into last Thursday’s game at Phoenix and then missing Saturday’s game at Utah.
Usually animated and vocal on the court, Doncic was particularly involved in a running conversation with Pistons assistant coach Jerome Allen.
“From the first quarter, he was just chirping,” Doncic said. “I don’t want to say the words. I have no problem with that. It’s basketball. It gets me going, for sure.”
The Mavericks (27-25) moved into sixth place in the Western Conference, a halfgame ahead of the four-team play-in positions.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 29 points and Saddiq Bey scored 18 — including five 3pointers — for the Pistons (13-39), who have lost six of seven.
Warriors 128, Thunder 120:
Stephen Curry had 38 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, and visiting Golden State defeated Oklahoma City for its third straight win.
Curry made 8 of 14 3pointers and 12 of 20 shots overall. Klay Thompson added 28 points and hit six 3s for the Warriors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half for the Thunder. Josh Giddey had 21 points and Jalen Williams added 19 for Oklahoma City, which missed out on a chance to even its season record.
Magic 119, 76ers 109:
Paolo Banchero had 29 points and 10 rebounds as Orlando stormed back from a 21-point first-quarter deficit to win at Philadelphia.
Mo Wagner scored 22 points and younger brother Franz Wagner added 19 for the Magic, who stopped a three-game skid and ended the Sixers’ seven-game winning streak.
Joel Embiid had 30 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, his 27th game this season scoring 30 or more and his ninth in the past 10.
Kings 118, Timberwolves 111 (OT): De’Aaron Fox had 32 points and Trey Lyles scored eight of his 11 in overtime as visiting Sacramento outlasted Minnesota.
Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out for the Kings, and Keegan Murray added 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards had 33 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, hitting the 30-point mark for the fifth time in the last six games. Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Wizards 127, Spurs 106:
Deni Avdija scored a careerhigh 25 points, Bradley Beal added 21 and Washington ended a 22-game losing streak in San Antonio.
Kristaps Porzingis had 17 points and nine rebounds after a fast start for the Wizards, who hadn’t beaten the Spurs on the road since Dec. 11, 1999. Washington has won six straight for its longest winning streak since a sixgame run in 2015.
Suns 114, Raptors 106:
Mikal Bridges scored 29 points, Deandre Ayton added 22 points and 13 rebounds, and host Phoenix pulled away late to beat Toronto.
The Suns won for the sixth time in seven games despite missing All-Star guard Devin Booker for the entire stretch.
Paul finished with 19 points and nine assists.
Trail Blazers 129, Hawks 125: Damian Lillard scored 42 points, going 10 of 21 from the field and making all 17 free throws, to lead host Portland past Atlanta.
Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons added 22 and 21 points, respectively, for the Blazers.
Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 40 points.