Doncic has 27 points, 12 assists and the Mavs beat the Raptors 103-95 | The Canadian News

TORONTO (AP) – Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks brushed off the disappointment of a season-opener loss with an impressive comeback in Toronto.

Doncic had 27 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, narrowly missing his 37th career triple-double, Kristaps Porzingis had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Mavericks recovered from an initial 14-point deficit to beat the Raptors. 103-95 on Saturday night.

“Our defense was not the best in the first half,” Doncic said. “In the second half we were together, we got it back, not like the first game. I think that was the key. “

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Dwight Powell and Dorian Finney-Smith each had 11 as Dallas rallied from Thursday’s loss in Atlanta.

“They put us to the test in Atlanta and we didn’t respond well,” said new Dallas coach Jason Kidd. “I thought the guys responded well here tonight, on the road.”

Hardaway credited Kidd with lifting the spirits of the team with a few words of encouragement before the warning.

“Coach Kidd said before the game ‘Great teams, they don’t lose two in a row and they find a way to win, especially in tough situations,'” Hardaway said. “We just wanted to make sure we finished strong and played hard on both ends of the court, and we didn’t want to question ourselves after the game.”

OG Anunoby scored 23 points for the Raptors, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Toronto won 115-83 in Boston on Friday.

Fred VanVleet scored 20 points and Scottie Barnes had 17. Precious Achiuwa had 10 points and 12 rebounds and Gary Trent Jr. had 12 points.

Anunoby and Trent combined for 30 points in the first half but only had five between them in the second as the Raptors were unable to maintain an early lead.

“Those are the nights that we really need our bench to provide some energy,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. “At home in a row they really need to give us something and they got over it pretty bad I thought.”

The Mavericks shot a lousy 32.6% (31 of 93) from the field against the Hawks on Thursday, and they weren’t much better early on against Toronto, missing nine of their first 10 attempts. Dallas went 0-8 from 3-point range in the first quarter.

Anunoby had 12 points in the first while Toronto led 25-18 after one.

Barnes went to the locker room for treatment after hurting his left quad early in the second quarter and did not play again midway through. Toronto led 51-45 at intermission.

Barnes came back in the third, but Dallas tied him at 62 on a Doncic basket with 6:06 left in the fourth, then took his first lead of the game when Powell sank after a Toronto fumble. Doncic followed up with his first triple after starting 0-of-5 from distance, then hit another jump shot to complete a 12-0 run for the Mavs.

Doncic scored 12 points in the third and Dallas took a narrow 74-72 lead into the fourth.

ADVICE

Mavericks: Dallas scored 15 points on Toronto’s 12 turnovers. … Hardaway shot 7 of 11 from 3-point range, while Doncic was 2 of 10.… The visiting team won for the second time in nine meetings between Toronto and Dallas.

Raptors: W / F Svi Mykhailiuk needed four points at halftime to close a cut to his head. Mykhailiuk was injured in an accidental collision with Porzingis at the end of the second. Mykhailiuk returned in the third. … F Pascal Siakam (left shoulder) is now practicing with light contact, coach Nick Nurse said. … F Yuta Watanabe (left calf) is expected to start practicing on Tuesday.

SO CLOSE!

Doncic missed a triple-double for a rebound or assist for the 15th time.

NOT SO CLOSE

This was the fourth time in 17 meetings that a game between Dallas and Toronto was not decided by less than 10 points.

THE SPECIAL DELIVERY

VanVleet and Achiuwa connected in the game’s basket, and VanVleet found his teammate for a midfield pass late in the third.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

Mavericks: They open their home schedule against Houston on Tuesday night.

Raptors: Chicago host on Monday night.

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