Luka Doncic had 27 points and 13 assists to lead the host Dallas Mavericks past the cold-shooting Chicago Bulls 119-99 on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks feasted on poor Chicago transition defense, scoring 21 fastbreak points, and led by as much as 30.
The Bulls, playing without All-Star Zach LaVine (adductor strain), shot just 41.9 percent from the floor and were 12-of-42 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range.
Chicago has lost three straight.
The first half was marked by a series of runs. It was the Bulls who started first, racing out to a 7-3 lead after a spin move and basket by Nikola Vucevic in the lane. Vucevic finished with a team-high 14 points in 25 minutes.
But the rest of the first quarter was dominated by the Mavs, specifically Kyrie Irving. The Mavs went on a game-changing 17-0 run and made eight straight shots during the quarter. Irving had 15 of his 17 points in the first as Dallas led 32-24 after 12 minutes.
Chicago went on a run in the second quarter with Josh Giddey making a 3-point to help pull the Bulls to 43-37 with six minutes left, but that was as close as they would come. Doncic sparked a 10-2 Dallas run with four free throws and a short jumper to push the lead back up to double digits. Dallas held a 56-45 lead at halftime.
Dallas went on a 13-0 run to open the second half, capped by a three by Klay Thompson to make it 69-45 with 8:46 left in the third. Thompson finished with 13 points and was 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Doncic went to the bench for good with 7:24 left and the Mavericks up 97-74.
The Mavericks played without center Dereck Lively for a second straight contest. He injured his shoulder in warmups before Monday's against Indiana. Forward P.J. Washington missed Wednesday's contest with a knee sprain.
Dallas lost another big man when Daniel Gafford took a knee to the thigh from Vucevic in the second quarter. He did not return.
--Field Level Media
Chicago | Dallas | |
Nikola Vucevic 14 | Scoring | Luka Doncic 27 |
Josh Giddey 6 | Assists | Luka Doncic 13 |
Nikola Vucevic 10 | Rebounds | Luka Doncic 7 |
Chris Duarte 4 | Free Throws Made | Luka Doncic 8 |
Matas Buzelis 2 | Steals | Luka Doncic 4 |
Matas Buzelis 1 | Blocks | Daniel Gafford 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Chicago | 99 | 41.9 | 12-42 | 15-23 | 25 | 51 | 2 | 8 | 23 |
Dallas | 119 | 48.4 | 12-38 | 17-21 | 33 | 47 | 4 | 11 | 15 |