Doncic scores 49 and hits a late right-handed 3-point heave as the Mavericks beat the Nets 125-120
DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic scored 49 points and had a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 26.3 seconds remaining on a right-handed heave that banked in as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-120 on Friday night in their home opener.
Doncic was standing near the right sideline, about 25 feet from the basket while being tightly guarded by former teammate Dorian Finney-Smith, when he fired off a semi-hook with the shot clock about to expire. He scored the last four field goals for Dallas - all on 3-pointers.
“I work on that,” Doncic said with a smile of the circus shot. “I work off the backboard.”
Doncic added 10 rebounds and seven assists.
“That’s a Luka special,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He likes the ball late, and he loves those situations, and he finds a way.”
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said that it is players like Doncic that make the difference with some teams.
“What makes teams special at the end of the day is they have dudes who can make tough shots, like Donovan (Mitchell of Cleveland) did against us the first night. Luka did,” Vaughn said.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 30 points in his seventh career NBA start, a game after setting a league record by scoring 36 points off the bench in a season opener.
Friday’s game was the first between the teams since the February trade that sent 10-time All-Star Kyrie Irving to Dallas in exchange for Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie.
After the final buzzer, Doncic and Finney-Smith renewed old acquaintances.
Finney-Smith said Doncic didn’t call bank on the key shot. Doncic disagreed.
“I said it in Slovenian, so he didn’t understand,” Doncic said.
“I wanted to call time out,” Kidd said, “but somehow, some way I didn’t.”
Doncic and Dinwiddie exchanged laughs at the center circle before the opening tap. Dinwiddie scored 23 points, hitting six 3-pointers in the first three quarters.
Two Nets had double-doubles: Royce O’Neale came off the bench to finish with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Ben Simmons had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Nets were 21 for 43 from behind the arc after going 9 for 27 in their one-point home loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points off the bench for the Mavericks, and Irving finished with 17.
Finney-Smith and Dinwiddie were honored with videos.
Finney-Smith scored 12 points. He made his first start of the season with center Nic Claxton (ankle sprain) and forward Cam Johnson (left calf contusion) out with injuries.
Dinwiddie led Brooklyn at the half with 15 points. Three of his four 3-pointers in the opening periods came in the final three minutes, helping the Nets to a 59-57 lead at the break.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Charlotte on Monday in the second game of a four-game trip.
Mavericks: At Memphis on Monday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ben Simmons vs. Dereck Lively II (Dorian Finney-Smith gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Ben Simmons misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
11:38 | Derrick Jones Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:16 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point running jump shot | |||
11:10 | Grant Williams defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Kyrie Irving misses two point driving layup | |||
10:59 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
10:52 | Cam Thomas misses three point jump shot | |||
10:47 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | Spencer Dinwiddie shooting foul (Dereck Lively II draws the foul) | |||
10:44 | Dereck Lively II misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:44 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +1 | Dereck Lively II makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-1 | |
10:30 | Dereck Lively II blocks Cam Thomas's two point driving layup | |||
10:28 | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | |||
10:26 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point putback layup | 2-1 | |
10:01 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point stepback jump shot | 2-4 | |
9:50 | Ben Simmons misses two point hook shot | |||
9:50 | Dereck Lively II defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point jump shot | 2-7 | |
9:40 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
9:20 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
9:17 | Grant Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:02 | Grant Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
8:59 | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | |||
8:45 | Spencer Dinwiddie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:30 | Ben Simmons personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
8:21 | Ben Simmons blocks Luka Doncic's two point driving layup | |||
8:19 | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | |||
8:16 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:13 | Mikal Bridges offensive rebound | |||
8:05 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 4-7 | |
7:43 | +2 | Grant Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Derrick Jones Jr. assists) | 4-9 | |
7:34 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 7-9 | |
7:24 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point cutting layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 7-11 | |
7:13 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 10-11 | |
7:00 | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | |||
6:56 | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | +2 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes two point driving dunk | 12-11 | |
6:26 | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point stepback jump shot | 12-14 | |
6:08 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point cutting layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 14-14 | |
5:50 | Dorian Finney-Smith personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
5:34 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 14-16 | |
5:14 | Grant Williams personal foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
5:02 | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point pullup jump shot | 17-16 | |
4:45 | Josh Green misses three point jump shot | |||
4:43 | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | |||
4:39 | Luka Doncic personal foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
4:27 | Mikal Bridges misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:24 | Grant Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Luka Doncic misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:16 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
4:09 | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | |||
4:06 | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | |||
4:02 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 17-18 | |
4:02 | Mikal Bridges shooting foul (Tim Hardaway Jr. draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | +1 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-19 | |
3:50 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-19 | |
3:37 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
3:37 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
3:23 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point driving layup (Mikal Bridges assists) | 21-19 | |
3:23 | Mavericks 60 second timeout | |||
3:16 | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point jump shot (Josh Green assists) | 21-22 | |
2:59 | Lonnie Walker IV offensive foul (Charge) (Maxi Kleber draws the foul) | |||
2:59 | Lonnie Walker IV turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:47 | Maxi Kleber misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
2:46 | Josh Green offensive rebound | |||
2:44 | Josh Green misses two point putback layup | |||
2:42 | Maxi Kleber offensive rebound | |||
2:40 | Maxi Kleber misses two point tip layup | |||
2:40 | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | |||
2:39 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive foul (Josh Green draws the foul) | |||
2:39 | Day'Ron Sharpe turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:22 | Dante Exum misses three point jump shot | |||
2:19 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
2:10 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
2:09 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
2:06 | Dante Exum blocks Day'Ron Sharpe's two point putback dunk | |||
2:05 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
2:04 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | |||
1:55 | Tim Hardaway Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Day'Ron Sharpe steals) | |||
1:51 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point running jump shot | 24-22 | |
1:35 | Kyrie Irving misses two point driving layup | |||
1:35 | Mavericks offensive rebound | |||
1:29 | Kyrie Irving misses two point jump shot | |||
1:26 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
1:13 | Tim Hardaway Jr. personal foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | Day'Ron Sharpe turnover (3-second violation) | |||
0:45 | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:43 | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Tim Hardaway Jr. shooting foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
0:37 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:37 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-22 | |
0:31 | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving layup | 25-24 | |
0:18 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
0:16 | Royce O'Neale offensive rebound | |||
0:15 | Royce O'Neale turnover (lost ball) (Dante Exum steals) | |||
0:13 | +2 | Dante Exum makes two point running dunk | 25-26 | |
0:01 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point stepback bank jump shot | |||
0:01 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:37 | Luka Doncic misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:35 | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:30 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point running jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 28-26 | |
11:19 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point driving layup | 28-28 | |
10:59 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point stepback jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 31-28 | |
10:40 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point turnaround bank hook shot (Maxi Kleber assists) | 31-30 | |
10:23 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Lonnie Walker IV assists) | 34-30 | |
10:06 | +2 | Dereck Lively II makes two point alley-oop dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 34-32 | |
9:50 | Mavericks technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
9:50 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 35-32 | |
9:41 | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:39 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
9:32 | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | |||
9:29 | Luka Doncic offensive rebound | |||
9:29 | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | |||
9:29 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-33 | |
9:29 | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-34 | |
9:17 | Mikal Bridges misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:15 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
9:07 | Luka Doncic misses two point driving bank jump shot | |||
9:05 | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | |||
8:58 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving layup | 37-34 | |
8:52 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 37-37 | |
8:31 | Dennis Smith Jr. offensive foul (Seth Curry draws the foul) | |||
8:31 | Dennis Smith Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:16 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating jump shot | 37-39 | |
7:57 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 40-39 | |
7:42 | Luka Doncic misses two point jump shot | |||
7:40 | Dereck Lively II offensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Dereck Lively II turnover (bad pass) (Cam Thomas steals) | |||
7:36 | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive foul (Charge) (Tim Hardaway Jr. draws the foul) | |||
7:36 | Dorian Finney-Smith turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:23 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point pullup jump shot | 40-41 | |
7:11 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
7:07 | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:00 | Seth Curry offensive foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | |||
7:00 | Seth Curry turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:38 | Cam Thomas misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
6:35 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point running layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 40-43 | |
6:28 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
6:21 | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive foul (Off the ball) (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | |||
6:21 | Dorian Finney-Smith turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:04 | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 40-45 | |
5:45 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses two point driving layup | |||
5:43 | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Mikal Bridges misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:34 | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Grant Williams turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
5:08 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
5:05 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
4:52 | Kyrie Irving misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:50 | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | |||
4:43 | Cam Thomas misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:41 | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
4:34 | Dwight Powell offensive rebound | |||
4:30 | Derrick Jones Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Ben Simmons steals) |