Doncic puts on an assist clinic to lead Mavericks past Pistons / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Luka Doncic had another solid double-double as the Dallas Mavericks (50-30) continue to fight for the third spot in the Western Conference.

Player of the Game EFF 24 Jalen Brunson Points 24 Accuracy 9-15 Rebounds 6 Assists 3

Mavericks 131-113 (32-34, 33-24, 34-28, 32-27) beat the hosting Detroit Pistons (23-57).

Doncic finished the game with a game-high 26 points (6/10 2PT, 2/11 3PT, 8/13 FT), 14 assists, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 6 turnovers.

The last time the Mavs (50-30) had 50 regular-season victories was the 2014-15 season. Doncic failed to reach the 30-point mark for the first time in six games but the Mavs won for the fifth time in their last six games.

Jalen Brunson supplied 24 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 13 points apiece. Marquese Chriss and Josh Green added 12 points apiece.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (23-57) with 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Isaiah Stewart contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds while Braxton Key tossed in 14 points. Saben Lee and Killian Hayes added 11 points apiece, while Jamorko Pickett chipped in 10.

The Mavericks shot 56.3 percent from the field and held the Pistons to 42.7 percent shooting.

Doncic had 16 points and six assists in the first half as Dallas gained a 65-58 lead. Brunson (13) and Dinwiddle (11) combined for 24 points.

Key led the Pistons with 12 points and three teammates had 10 apiece.

Reggie Bullock made two 3-pointers in just over a minute early in the third to give the Mavs an 82-69 lead. Cunningham made two baskets and added two assists in the ensuing two minutes to cut Dallas' advantage to 84-77.

The Mavs then went on a 9-0 run. Brunson sparked it with back-to-back baskets. Doncic fired in a 3-pointer, then found Finney-Smith for a dunk to cap it off.

Cunningham made a 3-pointer during the last second of the quarter but the Pistons still trailed 99-86 heading into the fourth.

Davis Bertans knocked down two 3-pointers in the first 1:02 of the fourth to increase Dallas' lead to 105-88. The Pistons whittled their deficit to nine with eight minutes left but Bertans then made another 3-pointer. The Mavericks held a double-digit lead the remainder of the game.

Pistons: Cade Cunningham 25 (6/15 2PT, 10/11 FT, 7 REB 9 AST, 5 TO), Isaiah Stewart 19 (3/10 2PT, 3/3 3PT, 14 REB), Braxton Key 14 (4/4 2PT), Killian Hayes 11, Saben Lee 11 (5/6 2PT), Jamorko Pickett 10.Mavericks: Luka Doncic 26 (6/10 2PT, 2/11 2PT, 8/13 FT, 8 REB, 14 AST, 6 TO), Jalen Brunson 24 (8/13 2PT, 5/6 FT, 6 REB), Dorian Finney-Smith 13 (3/5 3PT), Spencer Dinwiddie 13 (5/9 2PT), Joshua Green 12 (7 REB), Marquese Chriss 12.

Luka Doncic highlights

Full game highlights

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