Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts after getting knocked to the bottom throughout the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns ran double teams at Luka Doncic and the Dallas star picked them apart to establish easy baskets.
It was even worse when the Suns left Doncic in one-on-one coverage.
Luka Doncic scored 50 points to eclipse 10,000 for his NBA profession and had 15 assists, lifting the Dallas Mavericks to a 128-114 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
“He’s probably the greatest on the earth,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “As I’ve all the time said, we will’t take him as a right. When he’s feeling it, you’re just attempting to get him the ball as much as possible.”
They sure did against the Suns and Doncic made them pay for it.
Doncic capped a Christmas Day stuffed with NBA games with a stellar performance, hitting 8 of 16 from 3 and all 12 of his free throws. He eclipsed 10,000 profession points in the primary quarter to succeed in the milestone in 358 profession games, seventh fastest in NBA history.
Luka Doncic put together an HISTORIC #NBAXmas performance within the Mavs’ win over the Suns 🎄
50 PTS
15 AST
8 3PM
6 REB
4 STL
3 BLK▪️ No player in NBA history has reached these thresholds
▪️ 2nd player ever with 50 points and 15 assists (James Harden, Dec. 31, 2016) pic.twitter.com/tBFSwWKq9n— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2023
The remaining of the Mavericks chipped in when Doncic passed out of double teams.
Dereck Energetic II had 20 points and 10 rebounds after missing 4 games with an ankle sprain and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 18 points in Dallas’ ninth straight game without Kyrie Irving (heel).
After allowing Phoenix to take the lead, Dallas went on a 17-4 run midway through the fourth quarter and pulled away from there.
“That was a tricky road game and out of doors of the 10K and 50 points, we won the sport so I’m really comfortable,” Doncic said.
The Mavericks did their best to limit the effectiveness of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, holding them to 25 combined shots.
With Phoenix’s two stars surrounded by defenders all night, Chimezie Metu and Grayson Allen gave the Suns a lift off a bench that’s been a weak spot at times this season.
Allen scored 19 of his 32 points within the third quarter to assist the Suns rally from a 15-point deficit and went 8 of 17 from 3. Metu had 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds with big man Jusuf Nurkic missing his second straight game resulting from personal reasons.
The Suns have lost nine of 11.
“We weren’t stopping them within the fourth, so we were taking the ball within the basket,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “Double teaming Luka, they were hurting us and once we weren’t doubling, he was hurting us as well and I believe that took us out of our rhythm offensively some.”
Doncic had a 39-point triple-double in a win over San Antonio his last game and got off to a sizzling start within the desert.
He welcomed Energetic back by setting him up with two easy baskets on the rim. Doncic began searching for his shot after that, scoring 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the primary quarter to offer the Mavericks a 36-24 lead.
Doncic returned within the second quarter to hit a step-back 3-pointer and located Derrick Jones Jr. for a soaring alley-oop. Doncic had 24 points and eight assists to offer Dallas a 64-54 halftime lead.
The Suns were disjointed offensively many of the first half, missing 13 straight shots starting late in the primary quarter. Phoenix kept Dallas close by behind Metu’s 13 points by attending to the road, hitting 12 of 14 free throws in the primary half.
“I trust the players on this team,” said Booker, who had 20 points and 10 assists. “I’m throwing it to them each time, but the primary half we were just missing them.”
The Suns had higher ball movement to open the third quarter, using penetration to get open looks while cutting Dallas’ result in 75-71. Phoenix took the lead on Allen’s 3-pointer and things got testy late within the third quarter when Dallas’ Grant Williams pulled Booker by his jersey.
The Mavericks used their big run to go up eight and stretched it to 14 on Doncic’s runner within the closing seconds to push him to 50 points, capping his special Christmas night.
UP NEXT
Dallas: Hosts Cleveland on Wednesday.
Phoenix: Plays at Houston on Wednesday.
