Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a 128-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns, showcasing his ability to dismantle double teams and excel in one-on-one situations. Scoring 50 points and dishing out 15 assists, Doncic not only dominated the game but also surpassed 10,000 career points, becoming the seventh fastest player in NBA history to reach this milestone.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Doncic, highlighting his significance to the team and the need to keep feeding him the ball. Doncic’s performance, which included hitting 8-16 three-pointers and all 12 free throws, was a key factor in Dallas’ win.
“He’s one of the best in the world,” Kidd said. “As I’ve always said, we can’t take him for granted. When he’s feeling it, you’re just trying to get him the ball as much as possible.”
Supporting Doncic, Dereck Lively II contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds after missing four games with an ankle sprain, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 18 points. This victory came despite the absence of Kyrie Irving, who missed his ninth consecutive game due to a heel injury.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Updates
The Mavericks turned the game around with a 17-4 run in the fourth quarter, pulling away to secure the win. Doncic emphasized his satisfaction not just with his personal achievements but with the team’s victory.
“That was a tough road game and outside of the 10K and 50 points, we won the game so I’m really happy,” Doncic said.
Dallas effectively limited the impact of Phoenix’s stars, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, by holding them to a combined 25 shots. Booker scored 20 points with 10 assists, while Durant had 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Chimezie Metu and Grayson Allen stepped up for the Suns, with Allen scoring 32 points, including 19 in the third quarter, and Metu adding 23 points and 19 rebounds in the absence of Jusuf Nurkic.
“I trust the players on this team,” Booker said. “I’m throwing it to them every time, but the first half we were just missing them.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Updates
Despite these efforts, the Suns have struggled recently, losing nine of their last 11 games. Suns coach Frank Vogel acknowledged the difficulty in containing Doncic, stating that his performance disrupted their rhythm both offensively and defensively.
“We weren’t stopping them in the fourth, so we were taking the ball in the basket,” Vogel said. “Double teaming Luka, they were hurting us and when we weren’t doubling, he was hurting us as well and I think that took us out of our rhythm offensively some.”
The game also saw some tense moments, including an altercation involving Dallas’ Grant Williams and Booker. Ultimately, the Mavericks’ strong run in the latter part of the game, culminating in Doncic reaching 50 points, marked a memorable Christmas night for the team.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, while the Suns will face the Houston Rockets on the same day.
