A player in a purple and gold uniform sits on the bench, towel in hand, with fans and team members in the background at an NBA game.

NBA roundup: Luka Doncic puts up 45 amid cheers in Dallas

Bill Blatt
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Basketball, NBA
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Doncic Shines in Dallas Return, Lakers Top Mavericks

Luka Doncic erupted for 45 points, including 31 in the first half, in his return to Dallas as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James added 27 points and Rui Hachimura chipped in 15 to lift the Lakers to a 112-97 win over the Mavericks. The Lakers solidified their hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Doncic, traded to L.A. in February, received a warm reception during pregame introductions and an emotional video tribute.

Nuggets Respond After Coaching Change

One day after the firing of longtime head coach Michael Malone, the Denver Nuggets snapped a four-game skid with a 124-116 win over the Sacramento Kings. Interim coach David Adelman guided the team to a much-needed victory. Nikola Jokic tallied another triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Zach LaVine led Sacramento with 27 points.

Thunder Eliminate Suns with Win

Jalen Williams scored 33 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. OKC rested multiple key players but still prevailed, eliminating the Suns from Western Conference play-in contention. Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 25 points, and Devin Booker had 20 points and 14 assists.

Clippers Cruise, Zubac Gets First Triple-Double

James Harden poured in 35 points and Ivica Zubac recorded his first career triple-double as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets 134-117. Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 10 rebounds before exiting at halftime with groin soreness.

Raptors Roll Hornets, Mogbo Triple-Doubles

Jonathan Mogbo notched his first career triple-double (17 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) as the Toronto Raptors routed the Charlotte Hornets 126-96. Jared Rhoden scored 23 points off the bench, and Scottie Barnes added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Magic Beat Shorthanded Celtics, Secure No. 7 Seed

Franz Wagner had 23 points and Cole Anthony added 18 as the Orlando Magic defeated a depleted Boston Celtics squad 96-76. With the win, Orlando clinched the No. 7 seed in the East. Boston rested all its regular starters in the loss.

76ers End Skid, Dowtin Jr. Drops 30

Jeff Dowtin Jr. scored a career-high 30 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers end a 12-game losing streak with a 122-103 win over the Washington Wizards. Lonnie Walker IV added 24 points, while Tristan Vukcevic led Washington with 24 off the bench.

Bulls Outlast Heat Behind Giddey Triple-Double

Josh Giddey recorded 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Miami Heat 119-111. Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 11 boards. Tyler Herro led Miami with 30 points.

Jazz Beat Blazers in OT, Filipowski Shines

Rookie Kyle Filipowski had 30 points and 18 rebounds in Utah’s 133-126 overtime win over Portland. The Jazz ended a nine-game losing streak, while Shaedon Sharpe’s 37-point effort wasn’t enough for the Blazers.

Spurs Stun Warriors on Barnes Buzzer-Beater

Harrison Barnes hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 114-111 win over the Golden State Warriors. The loss dropped Golden State into seventh place in the Western Conference standings. Stephen Curry scored 30 points in the defeat.

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Bill Blatt
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Bill comes from a family of lifetime bettors, starting at the horse track. He grew up in sports betting, which explains his reputation for providing winners across a variety of sports. Bill has experience picking winners in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and UFC. We’re excited to have him as the Sports Hub expert in his specialty - basketball. You’ll find Bill’s content on some of the top sports media sites in the industry. You’ll want to check his picks daily as he has a knack for identifying the best underdogs to attack.
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