NBA: Luka Doncic, Mavericks storm back to beat Heat
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks talks to NBA official Scott Twardoski during the second half against the LA Clippers at American Airlines Center on February 12, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images/AFP
Luka Doncic had 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, helping the Dallas Mavericks rally past the host Miami Heat, 107-99, on Tuesday night.
Miami consistently double-teamed Doncic, who shot 5 of 19 from the floor. However, the Mavs made two huge three-pointers in the final two minutes, by Jalen Brunson and by Maxi Kleber. Each of them scored 19 points, and that was a season high for Kleber.
Article continues after this advertisementMaxi in the clutch! 💦💦💦 pic.twitter.com/14oZXPLfGN
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 16, 2022
In addition, Kleber had a game-high five blocked shots.
Dallas rallied from a 13-point third-quarter deficit as the Mavericks snapped Miami’s five-game win streak. Dallas is 5-1 in its past six games.
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Miami was led by Jimmy Butler, who had a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds. Miami’s Bam Adebayo added 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Heat’s home record fell to 19-7.
Miami entered the game leading the NBA in three-point percentage (37.6). But Dallas held Miami to 7 of 27 on three-pointers (25.9 percent).
Dallas shot 18 of 41 on three-pointers (43.9 percent).
Tyler Herro, Miami’s second-leading scorer on the season, missed his third game out of the past four due to a right knee contusion.
The Mavs were without several injured players, including two of their top six scorers: Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot) and Reggie Bullock (hip).
However, Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans — acquired last week in a trade for Kristaps Porzingis — made their Mavericks debuts. Bertans had 12 points. Dinwiddie had four points and five assists.
In the first quarter, Miami shot 57.1 percent and led 28-23. Miami’s Omer Yurtseven went 4-for-4 and had eight points in four minutes off the bench.
The Heat held Doncic to four points on 1-for-5 shooting in that first quarter, but Dallas stayed in the game by making five of nine attempts from beyond the arc.
Miami stretched its lead to 59-51 at halftime. Miami shot 52.3 percent in the first half and had a 26-15 rebounding edge.
Butler led all first-half scorers with 13 points. Doncic had 10 points at the half despite shooting just 2 of 9.
Doncic had 11 points in the third quarter as the Mavs took an 81-78 lead. Miami made just 1 of 10 three-pointers in the third.
Dallas kept coming in the fourth quarter, taking a 96-85 lead with 6:56 left, and Miami never recovered.
