Doncic scores 34 as Mavs go defensive in 115-90 win over Heat

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic had 34 points and 12 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks bolstered their defense in a 115-90 win against the Miami Heat on Friday night.

The Mavericks were missing No. 2 scorer Christian Wood, who missed the first of several games with a broken left thumb.

Two days after their defense was heavily criticized by coach Jason Kidd, they responded by holding the hit to 33% shooting in the first and third quarters combined, outscoring Miami 63–35.

Dallas dropped 40 points in the first quarter of a 130–122 loss to Atlanta, the third straight loss in which the Mavs scored at least 130 points. Miami’s total was low of the season for the rival Mavs.

Victor Oladipo scored 20 points and Bam Adebayo had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who went 4-1 to Dallas, giving them a season-high four games over .500.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 19 goals for the Mavericks and Reggie Bullock added 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. Doncic was 5 of 8 from deep and the Mavericks finished with 47% (18 of 38).

Miami reduced the deficit from 17 points in the first half to six at the start of the third quarter, but ended up trailing 32-16 in that period, scoring just 32%. Dallas led 92-67 after three.

Doncic ended Dallas’ solid defensive first quarter with a siren three-pointer to take a 31–19 lead. The NBA scoring leader scored 11 points in Game 1 and Game 3.

TIP-INS

Heat: This was the last road game of the season against a team in the Western Conference. The Heat fell to 15-9 against the West, including a 7-7 away victory over San Antonio in Mexico City. … Tyler Herro had 16 points but four losses in the game. … Jimmy Butler limited himself to seven shots and scored 12 points.

Mavericks: Dorian Finney-Smith scored 10 before getting into foul trouble in Game 2 after missing 14 with right adductor strain. He got his fifth foul at the end of the third quarter. … It was also Josh Green’s second game after he missed 20 games with a sprained right elbow. He scored 12 goals, including an alleyway dunk on Doncic’s seventh and final pitch in the fourth quarter.

NEXT

Heat: at home against New Orleans on Sunday, the second meeting in five days. Miami ended the Pelicans’ 32-game streak with at least 100 points in a 124–98 win on Wednesday.

Mavericks: The Clippers visit Sunday two weeks after Los Angeles won 113-101 at home in the season opener.