NBA: Luka Doncic leads Mavericks to 50th win in beating Pistons
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on April 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Nic Antaya/Getty Images/AFP
Luka Doncic had 26 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks reached the 50-win mark by pulling away from the host Detroit Pistons 131-113 on Wednesday.
The last time the Mavericks (50-30) had 50 regular-season victories was the 2014-15 season. Doncic failed to reach the 30-point mark for the first time in six games but the Mavericks won for the fifth time in their last six games.
Jalen Brunson supplied 24 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 13 points apiece. Marquese Chriss and Josh Green added 12 points apiece.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (23-57) with 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Isaiah Stewart contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds while Braxton Key tossed in 14 points. Saben Lee and Killian Hayes added 11 points apiece, while Jamorko Pickett chipped in 10.
Time to finish the season strong. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/LcAzHUKKOi
— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 7, 2022
The Mavericks shot 56.3 percent from the field and held the Pistons to 42.7 percent shooting.
Doncic had 16 points and six assists in the first half as Dallas gained a 65-58 lead. Brunson (13) and Dinwiddle (11) combined for 24 points.
Key led the Pistons with 12 points and three teammates had 10 apiece.
Reggie Bullock made two 3-pointers in just over a minute early in the third to give the Mavericks an 82-69 lead. Cunningham made two baskets and added two assists in the ensuing two minutes to cut Dallas’ advantage to 84-77.
The Mavericks then went on a 9-0 run. Brunson sparked it with back-to-back baskets. Doncic fired in a 3-pointer, then found Finney-Smith for a dunk to cap it off.
Cunningham made a 3-pointer during the last second of the quarter but the Pistons still trailed 99-86 heading into the fourth.
Davis Bertans knocked down two 3-pointers in the first 1:02 of the fourth to increase Dallas’ lead to 105-88. The Pistons whittled their deficit to nine with eight minutes left but Bertans then made another 3-pointer. The Mavericks held a double-digit lead the remainder of the game.
