DALLAS — Luka Doncic delivered a stunning performance with 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 144-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Doncic’s triple-double, his 36th with at least 30 points, puts him just one behind LeBron James for third on the all-time list.
The Spurs, already on a 1-21 skid, faced further challenges when rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama was ruled out due to an ankle sprain sustained during warmups. Wembanyama, who had been dealing with soreness in the same ankle, stepped on a ball boy’s foot, leading coach Gregg Popovich to sideline him as a precaution.
Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 23 points and nine rebounds. However, San Antonio couldn’t overcome the absence of Wembanyama, losing their fourth consecutive game since halting an 18-game losing streak, the franchise’s longest.
For the Mavericks, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points, and Dante Exum contributed 20 points in a well-rounded offensive display. The win helped Dallas end a three-game losing streak, which included a 26-point loss to Houston when both Doncic and Kyrie Irving were out. Irving has missed eight straight games with a right heel bruise.
Doncic, nearing a career milestone of 10,000 points, was efficient from the field, shooting 13 of 27, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. His triple-double comes just three nights after he narrowly missed one due to a rebound being taken away in the final stats of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
With this win, the Mavericks showcased their depth and resilience despite ongoing injuries, with Doncic emphasizing the team’s “next-man-up mentality.”
Looking ahead, the Spurs will host Utah on Tuesday night, while the Mavericks will visit Phoenix on Monday night to conclude the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
