Luka Doncic (#77) of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas, U.S., February 12, 2021. /CFP
Luka Doncic scored a career-high 46 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 36 and the Dallas Mavericks overcame Zion Williamson's career-best 36 points in a 143-130 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Doncic, who also had 12 assists and eight rebounds, connected on three of four Dallas three-pointers in just 93 seconds as the Mavericks made 13 of their first 15 shots in the third quarter. The Mavericks matched their season best with a fourth consecutive victory and beat the Pelicans for the fifth straight time.
Luka Doncic (#77) of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas, U.S., February 12, 2021. /CFP
"Luka was phenomenal," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Williamson was ridiculous. I mean, unbelievable, what he can do on the basketball floor. The ESPN crowd got a real treat tonight in terms of entertainment. But it was a pillow fight on defense."
Doncic, who tied his career high of 42 in a recent scoring showdown with Golden State star Stephen Curry, was 17 of 30 from the field, including five of eight from beyond the arc, and went seven of nine on free throws. The Slovenian sensation, the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, has won both meetings with Williamson, the top choice from a year later.
Zion Williamson (#1) of the New Orleans Pelicans plays defense on Luka Doncic (#77) of the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, U.S., February 12, 2021. /CFP
Williamson set a New Orleans franchise record by making all ten of his shots in the first half – including rim-rattling dunks on consecutive possessions – and finished 14 of 15. His only miss was a wide-open three early in the second half.
"Sometimes the trust can be there and a team just hits tough shots," Williamson said. "I think Luka went on a run there where he hit like four or five tough, contested three-pointers. There's not really a defensive scheme you can do there. That's just a great player hitting tough shots."
The Brooklyn Nets celebrate the Chinese New Year as Kevin Durant is shown on the big screen at Barclays Center in New York, U.S., February 10, 2021. /CFP
Kevin Durant has been cleared to return to the Brooklyn Nets' lineup just in time for his first road matchup with his former team, the Golden State Warriors.
Durant, who missed three games because of COVID-19 protocols, returned to practice on Friday for the first time since he was pulled from the Nets' game against the Toronto Raptors on February 5.
"Going back to Golden State, I'm looking forward to playing again and being out there with the team to try to build some chemistry. That's my main focus," said Durant, who played three seasons with the Warriors and won the NBA title with them in 2017 and 2018.
"I had some great years in Golden State, looking forward to being back in the Bay Area, but it's just a shame the fans won't be there."
Durant, 32, was considered a close contact with a Nets employee who tested positive for the virus when he was pulled from the game with the Raptors. He tested negative throughout the week.
"It was just an unfortunate situation," Durant said. "I was looking forward to that game that night. Being told right before the tipoff that I had to wait a second for a test, it just threw off my rhythm a bit because I wanted to go out there and play."
"But I mean I'm back out there now, it is what it is. I was a little upset during and after the game. But I'm cool now. I'm ready to play."
(With input from agencies)