A dunk try turned disastrous for Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on Thursday night time.
With seven minutes left within the third quarter, Doncic went left round a display earlier than accelerating — and elevating — towards the basket for a dunk. But Doncic made contact with Pelicans heart Jonas Valanciunas as Brandon Ingram blocked his try, forcing Doncic to fall to the bottom and ultimately exit with a proper heel contusion.
His proper foot had hit the court docket first earlier than the remainder of his physique adopted. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Doncic shook his head when glancing over at Dallas head coach Jason Kidd, indicating to Kidd that he wanted a substitution.
Before his exit, Doncic already had scored 31 factors in practically 23 minutes of enjoying time. That marked the “fewest minutes he’s played in a 30-point game in his career,” according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Mavericks led New Orleans by 26 factors when Doncic left, however the Pelicans in the end stormed again earlier than Dallas closed out a 111-106 victory.
Doncic’s previous week already had included a recreation missed (ankle) and a 53-point outburst towards the Pistons, the place he linked on 17-of-24 photographs and made 5-of-11 3-pointers in Dallas’ win.
In his fifth NBA season, the previous No. 3 total choice has averaged 33.4 factors, 8.9 rebounds and eight.3 assists per recreation, with 4 50-point video games — together with one 60-point outburst towards the Knicks on Dec. 27.
With the win Thursday night time, Dallas moved 28-25 this season, nonetheless located throughout the Western Conference playoff standings, whereas New Orleans fell to 26-27. The standing of the Mavericks’ star, although, will loom massive heading into showdowns towards the Warriors and Jazz — each competing for the convention’s ultimate postseason spots — on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
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