Doncic, Mavericks suffer another costly loss to Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks’postseason hopes could be slipping away.

The Charlotte Hornets overcame a 40-point outing from LukaDoncic on Sunday to defeat Dallas 110-104, their second win overthe Mavericks in three days — dealing another blow to Dallas’playoff hopes.

Gordon Hayward scored 22 points and P.J. Washington had 21points and 12 rebounds for the injury-plagued Hornets, who havebeen eliminated from playoff contention.

The Mavericks (36-39) entered the day tied with Oklahoma Cityfor the 10th-best record in the Western Conference but were stilloutside of the play-in tournament bubble because the Thunder holdthe head-to-head tiebreaker.

“It’s unfortunate that we let these two games go and we have tofigure out a way to stop the bleeding,” said Mavericks coach JasonKidd, adding that he wasn’t pleased with the team’s defensiveeffort.

Kyrie Irving had 18 points for Dallas, which fell to 7-13 sincethe point guard was acquired in a trade.

“Losing in basketball is very frustrating, especially when wehave as talented a group as we do,” Irving said.

A 3-of-18 shooting start from the field and a 19-pointfirst-half deficit ultimately proved too much for Dallas toovercome. The Mavs were able to capture the lead in the fourthquarter when Doncic knocked down his sixth 3-pointer of the gamewith 5:44 left, but they appeared to wear down during the stretchrun.

“The desire to win has to be at an all-time high right now,” TimHardaway Jr. said. ” ... The second half it was, but the same aslast game it was too late.”

The desire will need to be even higher on Monday night.

Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season in thethird quarter, meaning he will face a one-game suspension and willmiss a game against the Indiana Pacers unless the technical isrescinded by the league office.

Crew Chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the game thatDoncic used “a profanity directed at the officials in protest to ano-call that was correctly judged in postgame video review.”

Kidd said he didn’t think the technical was warranted and thatit should be rescinded.

Doncic was not made available for interviews after the game.

A dejected Doncic had said after Friday night’s loss to theHornets he was frustrated over how the season has gone. He addedthat his feelings were not just basketball-related but did notelaborate.

Dennis Smith Jr. came up with a key bucket for Charlotte againsthis former team, sneaking behind the Dallas defense and dunking offa lob from Washington to put Charlotte up by five with 1:05remaining. Maxi Kleber responded with a 3 off a feed from Doncic,but Charlotte answered again with a layup by Mark Williams off apass from Hayward.

Doncic then missed a 3-pointer on the other end, all butsecuring the Charlotte win.

After Doncic missed another desperation 3 as the clock expired,he exchanged words with a fan seated courtside and wagged hisfinger at him.

“The biggest part of the game again was the first quarter,”Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “Playing from ahead is a bigdeal. Every year the numbers bear it out, people want to say, ‘Allyou have to do is watch the fourth quarter,’ but they have no ideawhat they’re talking about. It’s anything but that.”

FAN BOOTED

Irving asked officials to remove a fan from the arena in thethird quarter after he said the fan called him a name.

“I just had to make sure I looked him eye to eye and see if hewould say it to my face,” Irving said. “A lot of fans say thingswhen you turn your head or say it in a crowd because they can getit away it. ... He yelled it and I handled it.”

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Doncic has been assessed the third-most technicalfouls in the league behind Memphis’ Dillon Brooks (18) andAtlanta’s Trae Young (17). ... Hardaway returned after missing thelast two games.

Hornets: Rookie center Mark Williams had 15 points and 16rebounds. ... Terry Rozier (right foot discomfort) and Kelly OubreJr. (right shoulder sprain) both sat out for the second straightgame.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Travel to Indiana on Monday for the second of fivestraight games on the road.

Hornets: At Oklahoma City on Tuesday.