By the Associated Press
DALLAS — Luka Doncic was out for an impressive Dallas win in Philadelphia and didn’t have European sidekick Kristaps Porzingis for the rematch in Texas.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott (1) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) as 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Saturday, Jan 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dwight Powell was the big man around the basket and left the 76ers feeling like they’d had enough of Texas for now in their second straight game without star center Joel Embiid.
Doncic had 19 points and 12 assists, Powell scored 10 of his 19 points in a decisive third quarter and the Mavericks beat the 76ers 109-91 on Saturday night.
Powell was 5 of 6 from the field and had four of his season-high 12 rebounds in the third quarter, when the Mavericks outscored the 76ers 32-16 to turn a nine-point deficit into a 73-66 lead that grew to a 21-point margin in the fourth.
Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) drives toward the basket as he is defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Al Horford (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Saturday, Jan 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas erased a 12-point deficit from late in the first half, bouncing back a night after getting manhandled by LeBron James and the Lakers, who were without Anthony Davis. Embiid is sidelined after surgery for a torn ligament in a finger on his left hand.
“We’ve had some tough losses,” Doncic said. “We had a nice win. We needed it.”
The Mavericks swept the two-game season series with an Eastern Conference contender after winning by 19 in Philadelphia when Doncic was out with a sprained ankle last month.
It was the second straight loss in Texas for the 76ers, who capped a season-worst four-game losing streak in Houston before winning their previous two games.
Tobias Harris had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but Philadelphia shot 24% (5 of 21) in the third quarter.
“That was the change of the game, was the third quarter,” Harris said. “All throughout the game we had good looks. Third quarter, we missed a bunch in a row.”
It was Dallas’ seventh straight game, and possibly last, without Porzingis. The 7-foot-3 Latvian has been out with right knee soreness — not the same knee he injured in his final game with the New York Knicks. Coach Rick Carlisle said he could play on the upcoming two-game trip to California.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 12 points and a season-high nine rebounds to help the Mavericks finish 3-3 on a six-game homestand, their longest of the season.
“It’s a great way to end the homestand,” Carlisle said. “We would have loved to have won another game or two. But we are where we are.”
Doncic had another rough shooting night after ripping his jersey in frustration against the Lakers, going 4 of 15 but hitting 10 of 12 free throws. The 2019 Rookie of the Year, this year’s NBA leader with 11 triple-doubles, had eight rebounds.
Ben Simmons had 11 points and 11 assists but was held scoreless in the second half. The 76ers hoisted 98 shots but finished at 38%.
“It was a tale of two halves for sure,” coach Brett Brown said. “To have 19 more shots than a team, you wouldn’t think when you look back down and looked at the score that it was going to equal that margin of a loss.”
Source: Manila Bulletin
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