Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after making a basket within the second half in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on April 10, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP
Luka Doncic scored 26 factors regardless of sitting your complete fourth quarter, main the Dallas Mavericks to a 130-120 win over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Sunday on the ultimate day of the NBA’s common season.
The Mavericks’ win proved inconsequential after Golden State walloped New Orleans on Sunday to clinch the third seed within the West. Dallas (52-30) may have climbed to 3rd with a victory and a Golden State loss — as an alternative the Mavericks completed fourth and can face fifth-seeded Utah within the first spherical of the playoffs.
That’s 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 👌s for @luka7doncic this season. Only the third Maverick to take action. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/f2RbXIoXdh
— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 11, 2022
Dallas blew open a recreation that was tied 59-59 at halftime and at 66-66 with 8:50 to play within the third interval with Dorian Finney-Smith scoring all 16 of his factors within the quarter and Jalen Brunson hitting for 10, permitting the Mavericks to hold a 97-82 lead into the ultimate 12 minutes.
The Spurs (34-48) had little to play for within the season-finale after having secured the tenth seed within the West and a spot within the play-in event at New Orleans on Wednesday. The winner of the San Antonio-New Orleans recreation will face the loser of the Minnesota-Los Angeles Clippers recreation to see who will face top-seeded Phoenix within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Jalen Brunson added 18 factors for the Mavericks, Theo Pinson had 16 and Dwight Powell hit for 12 factors for Dallas, which is able to carry a four-game successful streak into the postseason.
Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 24 factors within the loss, with Josh Richardson scoring 18, Dejounte Murray including 17, Devin Vassell contributing 15 factors, and Jakob Poeltl and Tre Jones hitting for 12 factors every. San Antonio has dropped three straight video games getting into the play-in tourney.
Murray returned after lacking the previous 5 video games with an upper-respiratory sickness.
The Spurs led 29-28 on the finish of the primary quarter. The recreation flip-flopped by way of the second interval with eight lead adjustments and neither workforce incomes greater than a four-point benefit. Doncic had 11 factors within the interval, together with the jumper with 47.6 seconds left to tie the sport at 59-59 on the break.
Doncic led all scorers within the half with 18 factors, whereas Vassell and Johnson paced the Spurs with 13 and 10 factors, respectively.
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