Luka Doncic scored 27 points and had 13 assists to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 119-99 on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks took advantage of the Bulls’ poor defense in transition, scoring 21 fast-break points, and they led by as much as 30 points during the game.
Chicago, playing without star player Zach LaVine due to an adductor strain, shot only 41.9 percent from the field and struggled from long range, hitting just 12 out of 42 three-point attempts (28.6 percent). This loss marked Chicago’s third straight defeat.
The first half featured several runs by both teams. The Bulls started strong with a 7-3 lead, highlighted by a spin move and basket from Nikola Vucevic, who finished with a team-high 14 points in 25 minutes.
However, the Mavs responded with a 17-0 run, making eight consecutive shots. Kyrie Irving played a key role in that run, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the first quarter, and Dallas led 32-24 at the end of the first period.
In the second quarter, Chicago made a push. A three-pointer from Josh Giddey brought the Bulls within 43-37, but the Mavs answered with a 10-2 run. Doncic contributed with four free throws and a jumper, and Dallas extended the lead to 56-45 at halftime.
Dallas started the second half with a 13-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Klay Thompson to make it 69-45 with 8:46 left in the third quarter. Thompson finished with 13 points and was 3-for-7 from three-point range.
Doncic sat out the remainder of the game with 7:24 left in the third, with the Mavericks leading 97-74.
Dallas was also without center Dereck Lively, who missed his second game in a row due to a shoulder injury. Forward P.J. Washington also missed the game because of a knee sprain. The Mavericks lost another player when Daniel Gafford took a knee to the thigh from Vucevic in the second quarter and did not return.
