Luka Dončić had 25 points in the game after an unusual scoreless first quarter. The Dallas Mavericks secured a 109-95 win against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, maintaining their position alone in fifth place in the Western Conference.
Kyrie Irving contributed 26 points, while Doncic grabbed 12 rebounds and made eight assists. This victory marked the Mavericks’ 12th win in 14 games, as they get on a rare stretch of three home games in four days.
After completing a five-game road trip, the longest of the season, the Mavericks returned home a bit fatigued. However, Coach Jason Kidd noted the team’s chemistry and trust, despite a less-than-perfect performance.
The Mavericks’ schedule was adjusted due to the postponement of a game against Golden State in January following the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. As a result, their game against Atlanta was rescheduled to accommodate Golden State’s visit.
Currently, the Mavericks are ahead of Phoenix in the standings, holding the final guaranteed playoff spot in the West and having the tiebreaker advantage over the Suns.
Bogdan Bogdanović scored 17 points, and Dejounte Murray added 16 for the Hawks, who have already secured a spot in the play-in tournament in the East.
Although the Hawks managed to reduce a 17-point deficit in the third quarter, they struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, preventing them from closing the gap further. The Hawks matched their season low in scoring, highlighting the Mavericks’ strong defensive performance.
Doncic, despite a slow start, scored 16 points in the second quarter, contributing to the Mavericks’ lead going into halftime. Irving also played a crucial role for the Mavericks, scoring eight points in each of the first two quarters.
