Doncic returns in style with 39 points and 132-122 win over Warriors

In his return to the lineup, Luka Doncic showcased his scoring prowess by netting 25 of his 39 points in the second half, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 132-122 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

Doncic, who had missed the previous game due to left quadriceps soreness, also contributed 10 assists and eight rebounds to the winning effort. Dante Exum chipped in with 19 points, supporting Dallas in improving their record to 19-14. Josh Green had a season-high 18 points, and Dereck Lively II added 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Golden State, led by Stephen Curry’s 25 points and seven assists, faced a setback with their third consecutive loss, bringing their record to 15-17. Chris Paul achieved a season-high 24 points, surpassing 22,000 career points and becoming the 37th player in NBA history to do so.

Trayce Jackson-Davis notched a career-high 17 points for Golden State, while Jonathan Kuminga contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, marking his 12th straight game with at least 10 points.

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Dallas took control early with a 13-0 run in the second quarter, establishing a 49-33 lead, but Golden State responded with a 12-0 spurt to narrow the gap to four points. Doncic’s 14 points in the third quarter helped the Mavericks extend their lead to 101-89.

Although Curry and Paul’s consecutive 3-pointers cut the deficit to 119-114 with 2:47 remaining, the Mavericks secured the win with a 55.7% shooting performance, compared to the Warriors’ 45.6%.