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Luka Doncic, Mavs dominate in handing Wizards sixteenth consecutive loss

NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Washington WizardsDec 5, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket as Washington Wizards guard Jared Butler (4) defends in the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Luka Doncic recorded his first triple double of the season and the visiting Dallas Mavericks routed the Washington Wizards 137-101 on Thursday night for their sixth straight win.

Doncic finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 78th regular-season triple double.

Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 25 points for the Mavericks, who have won 10 of 11, and former Wizards center Daniel Gafford scored 16 points off the bench.

Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 points and Carlton Carrington added 15 for the Wizards, who tied the franchise record with their 16th straight defeat.

The Mavericks made 20 of 38 (52.6 percent) from 3-point range while the Wizards hit just 13 of 409 (32.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Dallas outrebounded Washington 64-48.

The Mavericks led by 18 at halftime, and Irving and Dereck Lively II sparked a 9-2 run to start the third quarter and the Dallas lead was 77-52.

Washington soon rallied and Alex Sarr’s 3-pointer pulled the Wizards within 83-69, but Irving and Gafford sparked a 12-0 run that gave Dallas a 95-69 margin.

Gafford scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter and the lead was 110-78. The Mavericks led by as many as 42 points late in the game.

The Wizards played without second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma (left rib sprain) and Corey Kispert (left ankle sprain).

The Wizards had an early 6-3 edge but that was quickly erased by a 15-0 Dallas run. Washington rallied, but Spencer Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer gave the Mavericks a nine-point lead after one quarter.

Klay Thompson hit a pair of threes early in the second quarter and Dallas led 39-24. Doncic’s jumper pushed the lead to 20 and P.J. Washington’s two free throws gave the Mavericks their biggest lead of the half, 53-31.

Jordan Poole’s 3-pointer pulled the Wizards within 15 points, but Irving scored the final five points of the quarter and Dallas led 68-50 at the break.

The Mavericks shot 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from 3-point range in the first half while the Wizards were 5 of 20 (25 percent).

–Field Level Media

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