NBA: Luka Doncic dominates as Dallas Mavericks beat Orlando Magic
Luka Doncic delivered 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a “really fun” performance as the Dallas Mavericks cruised to a 108-85 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Doncic scored 14 points in the first quarter to help the Mavericks take a 30-22 lead and lead 65-40 at halftime.
The 25-year-old Slovenian scored 25 points in the first half, including five three-pointers.
“Today was really fun,” he said. “We guarded everyone, defended, rebounded and played with a lot of speed. So that’s fun for me.”
Dallas maintained their momentum in the second half, extending their lead to 82-52 after Doncic’s free throw with six minutes and five seconds to play in the third quarter, and they led by as many as 33 points during the fourth quarter .
Daniel Gafford scored 18 points for Dallas, while Kyrie Irving added 17 and Dereck Lively II had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
It was the third straight loss for Orlando, which made just eight of 41 3-point attempts and is currently without All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who has an abdominal muscle injury and will miss at least the next four weeks.
Elsewhere the Detroit Pistons bounced back from a 30-point loss to the New York Knicks on Friday to claim their second win of the season with a 106-92 success against the Brooklyn Nets.
Star guard Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists and for the first time this season, every Pistons starter scored in double figures.
In New Orleans, Jalen Johnson scored 29 points and Trae Young added 23 points, four rebounds, 12 assists and a steal as the Atlanta Hawks won 126-111 and handed the injury-hit Pelicans their first home loss of the season.
Brandon Ingram led the scoring for the Pelicans with a game-high 32 points.