Washington, Feb. 11 (BUS): Luka Doncic said he will miss Kristaps Porzingis after the Dallas Mavericks replaced the never-to-be-reigned star player.
Doncic scored 28 points from his career high, 51 points in the first quarter, and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-105 Thursday night, according to the Associated Press.
The 22-year-old’s 3-point frenzy, part of the highest-scoring quarter in the NBA this season, came shortly after the franchise decided to end in two or more seasons, a duo that never delivered the way the club had hoped yet. This success. With the New York Knicks in 2019.
Although Doncic hit seven of his first nine 3-seconds in the quarter to score the most goals of his career, regular season or playoffs, the Clippers were close to two points in the fourth quarter. But that’s just preparing Doncic for his first 50-point game.
Los Angeles maintained their lead in the game with a more balanced goal led by Marcus Morris Sr., with 21 points. Norman Powell had 19 and Reggie Jackson 18 in their first back-to-back meetings in Dallas. The return match is on Saturday.
Dallas’ lead was five when Doncic came back for the last time with 8 minutes left, and the Mavericks regained their cushion after a foul call they didn’t like against Maxi Clipper gave the Clippers a chance to equalise.
Prince Kofi made two free throws to get Los Angeles in the space of three, but a steal by Doncic led to Jalen Bronson’s alley pass to Dorian Finney Smith for a throw. After a 3rd air ball from Nicholas Batum, Doncic helped the Reggie Bullock 3 pointer to a 102-94 lead.
Vinnie Smith scored 12 points and Branson and Bullock 11 points each. Doncic finished 17 of 26 from the field and 7 of 14 of 3, with the only indication of an upcoming fight over free throws.
He would have had 30 points in the first quarter if he hadn’t missed three of four from the streak, but he got hot there as well and made a 10 of 14 off the bar.
Because of all the scoring, Doncic’s career best streak finished in seven games with at least 10 assists. The three-time superstar has six assists and nine rebounds.
After Doncic entered the seventh 3 of the first quarter, plenty of fans got up and stayed on their feet as Dallas went to the defensive end. Then the fans cheered loudly when play stopped and a smiling Doncic walked toward the bench.
Fans chanted “MVP! Best player!” as Doncic waited for a free throw that put him at 50 for the first time. He scored the second goal to lead 110-103 with 40 seconds remaining.
Early in the first quarter, the Clippers left center Ivica Zubac to keep Doncic on the keys repeatedly, Doncic hitting several 3s on a 7-footer and hitting him in a drive twice. One bucket was a float in a driveway above the ZiwiPeak.
Los Angeles began running two defenders in Doncic as soon as he crossed the middle of the field, and a potential 30-foot pass to Marquis Chris was thwarted when Chris was unable to convert the ball in a contested layup.
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