Luka Doncic powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, tallying 27 points and 13 assists. The win improved the Mavericks’ record to 5-3, while the Bulls fell to 3-5, losing their third consecutive game.
The Mavericks set the tone early with a 17-0 run in the first quarter, which included back-to-back 3-pointers from Doncic and Klay Thompson. Dallas led by as many as 30 points and never looked back, controlling the game throughout.
Kyrie Irving added 17 points for the Mavericks, while Daniel Gafford also contributed 17 points in a season-high 24 minutes. Gafford’s efficiency was evident as he shot 7-of-9 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds, helping Dallas dominate the paint.
The Bulls struggled with their shooting, finishing the game with a disappointing 28.6% from beyond the arc (12-42). Despite a solid performance from Nikola Vucevic, who posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, Chicago could not match the Mavericks’ offensive firepower. Vucevic sat out the fourth quarter as the game slipped away.
Rookie Matas Buzelis provided a bright spot for the Bulls, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds. However, the absence of Zach LaVine, who was sidelined due to an adductor strain, was felt throughout the game, especially in the second half when the Bulls couldn’t generate enough offense to keep up.
Dallas capitalized on Chicago’s shooting woes and defensive lapses. The Mavericks outscored the Bulls 60-48 in the paint, despite missing key players, including P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II, due to injuries. Dallas also led 28-13 in points off turnovers, further highlighting their defensive strength.
On the other side, the Bulls’ lack of offensive consistency was evident. Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White struggled, combining for just 14 points on 5-of-26 shooting. The Bulls’ poor shooting from beyond the arc, where they connected on just 12 of 42 attempts, further hampered their chances of making a comeback.
