Doncic wins scoring battle with Curry
NEW YORK: Luka Doncic equaled a career high with 42 points to fend off a 57-point performance from Stephen Curry as the Dallas Mavericks avoided back-to-back losses to the Golden State Warriors with a thrilling 134-132 win on Saturday.
Slovenia’s Doncic drained a clutch three pointer with 44 seconds left and Maxi Kleber, of Germany, sealed the win with another three to give the Mavs a four point lead with six seconds to go in the contest at the American Airlines Center in Texas.
The Mavs with the victory managed to avoid a two game sweep at home after losing 147116 on Thursday.
Curry bombed in 11 threes including one with 39 seconds to go and another with 10 seconds to cut the Mavericks lead to 131-130. That set the stage for Kleber’s heroics as he finished off a three-way passing play from the left side to clinch the victory.
“What a display of basketball out there,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “Just amazing playmaking and shot-making the entire night. Curry and Doncic were spectacular. Both teams played with a lot of heart and a lot of joy. Great thing to see.”
Doncic made 12 of his 23 shots and seven of his 12 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 11 assists and had seven rebounds.
Curry’s 57 points came on 19for-31 shooting overall and 11-for19 from beyond the arc. It was his second-highest scoring game of the season, after posting 62 against Portland in January.
In Los Angeles, LeBron James scored eight of his 33 points in the second overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers survived a scare from the lowly Detroit Pistons with a 135-129 win in Los Angeles.
James was able to salvage the victory for the reigning NBA champions after they blew a 17point lead, allowing the Pistons to get back in it and force two overtimes.
Anthony Davis scored 30 points and Dennis Schroder finished with 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who almost lost their second straight game to the woeful Pistons who have won just five games all season.
Jerami Grant delivered 30 points and Josh Jackson scored 25 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime for the Pistons, who have the worst record in the league.
Also, Harrison Barnes scored 28 points as the red-hot Sacramento Kings overcame Nikola Jokic’s 50point night with a 119-114 victory over the under-manned Denver Nuggets.