Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks displayed resilience and skill to secure a 124-118 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, despite LaMelo Ball’s remarkable 30-point triple-double performance.
In a thrilling Sunday night matchup, Luka Doncic, the star of the Dallas Mavericks, rebounded impressively to secure a 124-118 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, despite an outstanding fourth-quarter performance by LaMelo Ball.
Doncic initially faced a rare scoreless first quarter but bounced back strongly to contribute 23 points to his team’s success. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball showcased his prowess with a remarkable 30-point triple-double, featuring 13 assists and 10 rebounds, with 23 of those points coming in the final quarter.
The Hornets had held a 15-point lead in the first half, but they couldn’t maintain their advantage, falling short in their bid for back-to-back victories, following a one-point win in Indiana the previous night.
“Just trying to win, really. Trying to do as much as I could,” said Ball, who was 8 of 9 from the field and 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the fourth, the highest-scoring quarter of his career. “Didn’t really go our way at the end.”
In a pivotal game, the Dallas Mavericks, eager to recover from their first loss of the season, showcased a remarkable performance. Grant Williams made a significant impact by contributing 18 points, including three crucial 3-pointers during the fourth quarter. The rookie sensation, Dereck Lively II, displayed his potential with an impressive stat line of 15 points, 14 rebounds, and a game-changing block in the final quarter.
As the game reached its closing moments, the Charlotte Hornets had an opportunity to even the score, following a shot-clock violation call against Dallas with a mere 8.4 seconds remaining. However, their chances were dashed when rookie Brandon Miller failed to inbound the ball within the stipulated five-second window, resulting in a critical turnover. To make matters worse for the Hornets, LaMelo Ball fouled Kyrie Irving just before the Mavericks inbounded the ball.
Kyrie Irving capitalized on this opportunity by converting a crucial free throw, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 120-116. Dallas retained possession, and Irving effectively sealed the victory by sinking two more free throws with only 7.7 seconds remaining, effectively securing Dallas’ fifth win in six games.
“I’m not going to say anything about that,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said about the late inbound play. “I didn’t see it. I have nothing to say about that.”
Luka Doncic, who experienced only one scoreless first quarter in the previous season, bounced back after a slow 0-for-4 start. He managed to connect on 8 of 15 field goals, although his performance from long range was less successful, hitting just 1 of 9 three-point attempts. Doncic’s overall contribution included 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Kyrie Irving made a solid contribution to the Mavericks’ victory, tallying 18 points and 10 assists.
“When we have 77 and 11, it’s an easy thing,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said about Doncic and Irving. “I thought our quarterback was great, and our receivers were great with that.”
Gordon Hayward and P.J. Washington each contributed 20 points for the Hornets, while Mark Williams had a strong performance with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
LaMelo Ball made his presence felt early in the game, dishing out 11 assists before finally getting his first points on a layup late in the first half. During this period, Charlotte was efficient, shooting at a 57% rate and holding a 60-45 lead late in the second quarter. Hayward added 15 points to the scoreboard before the halftime break.
The Mavericks improved their defensive effort in the final minute of the first half, forcing three missed shots. Luka Doncic attempted a late 3-pointer, but it did not find the mark, leaving Dallas with a 12-point deficit at the half.
Dallas continued to display strong defensive play in the second half, limiting Charlotte to a 42% shooting percentage.
However, Doncic’s emotions got the better of him, as he received his second technical foul of the season following a foul call he disagreed with. He was on the verge of receiving another after being whistled for a bump on Hayward during a shot attempt. Despite Hayward missing both free throws, Doncic showcased his resilience by hitting a step-back jumper at the other end while expressing his emotions.
Doncic remained a key factor in the game, contributing 10 points and four assists in the fourth quarter.
“We changed coverages,” Clifford said about trying to defend Doncic. “We really tried like four or five different things. And he just destroyed us. They had him for nine assists, but he created almost their entire offense. And we couldn’t figure out a way to stop him.”
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