In a stellar performance on Christmas Day, Luka Doncic showcased his scoring prowess, dropping an incredible 50 points and dishing out 15 assists, leading the Dallas Mavericks (18-12) to a commanding 128-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns (14-15).
Despite the Suns attempting to contain Doncic with double teams, the versatile star exploited the defensive strategy, hitting 8 of 16 from beyond the arc and converting all 12 of his free throws.
Doncic reached a significant milestone, surpassing 10,000 career points in just 358 games, marking the seventh-fastest achievement in NBA history.
While Doncic’s scoring spree stole the spotlight, his teammates, including Dereck Lively II and Tim Hardaway Jr., played crucial roles, contributing to the Mavericks’ success.
Lively, returning from a four-game absence due to an ankle sprain, provided a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Hardaway Jr. added 18 points to bolster the Mavericks in the absence of Kyrie Irving, who missed his ninth consecutive game due to a heel injury.
In the face of a Suns team led by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the Mavericks executed a solid defensive strategy, limiting the star duo to a combined 25 shots.
Phoenix, facing offensive struggles, received a spark off the bench from Chimezie Metu and Grayson Allen. Allen’s explosive third quarter, where he scored 19 of his 32 points, helped the Suns rally from a 15-point deficit.
However, the Mavericks took control in the fourth quarter with a decisive 17-4 run, securing their victory and extending the Suns’ woes, as Phoenix has now lost nine of their last 11 games.
