Mavs end Jazz’s win streak at 9 games
Luka Doncic scored 31 points and Dorian FinneySmith added a seasonhigh 23 as the Mavericks beat Utah 111103 in Dallas on Monday night for their seasonbest fifth straight win.
The NBAleading Jazz had their winning streak halted at nine games.
Jalen Brunson scored 20 points, Josh Richardson 17 and Tim Hardaway Jr. 16 as Dallas won for the first time in three games against Utah this season. Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas’ No. 2 scorer and leading rebounder, sat out with a sprained right wrist.
Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle was pleased to hold the NBA’s No. 3 scoring team, averaging 117.2 points entering Monday, to its lowest point total since Feb. 7 after losing the previous two games in the season series at Utah in late January.
“To hold these guys to 103 is a hell of a job,” Carlisle said. “The difference was we just came out and we were much more physical than we were last time we played them. That was a long time ago; that was light years ago.”
Mike Conley scored 28 points to lead the Jazz, who trailed by as many as 18 points. Donovan Mitchell added 16.
Dallas beat Utah at its longrange game. The Mavericks were 23for49 from behind the arc; their highs this season from behind the arc are 25 makes and 50 attempts. The Jazz, who were leading the NBA averaging 17.1 3pointers per game and ranked second hitting 39.8% from long range, went 12for44 (27.3%).
Raptors 103, Wizards 101: Gary Trent Jr. beat the buzzer with a long 3-pointer to help host Toronto rally from a 19-point second-half deficit against Washington. Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for the Wizards, who have lost four straight.
Nets 114, Knicks 112: Kyrie Irving scored 40 points, Jeff Green made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left and Brooklyn overcame the early loss of James Harden to win in Madison Square Garden. Harden returned after missing two games with right hamstring tightness but lasted just four minutes before having to leave with the same injury.
Timberwolves 116, Kings 106: D’Angelo Russell scored 25 points in his return from knee surgery and Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota in a home win over Sacramento. Anthony Edwards added 19 points for the Timberwolves. De’Aaron Fox had 31 points for the Kings, who lost their fourth in a row.
Pistons 132, Thunder 108: Jerami Grant scored 21 points against his former team, and Detroit won in Oklahoma City.
Cavaliers 125, Spurs 101: Darius Garland scored a career-high 37 points to help visiting Cleveland beat San Antonio and snap a five-game skid.
Suns 133, Rockets 130: Devin Booker scored 18 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s road win. Deandre Ayton matched a season high with 27 points as the Suns won for the ninth time in 10 games.