DALLAS — Luka Doncic recorded another triple-double as the short-handed Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Magic 112-98 on Saturday night to stay perfect in the New Year. Box Score
Doncic completed his second triple-double of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Mavericks (5-4).
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Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 36 points on 12-of-20 shooting, which included eight 3-pointers, while Trey Burke also tallied a season-best with 29 points off the bench.
Burke shot 11-of-13 from the floor and made 7 of his 8 attempts from 3-pointers for the Mavericks, who are over .500 for the first time this season.
“He’s a dangerous scorer,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said about Burk. “One reason I think he plays well for us is that he knows that we have great confidence in him. He’s a guy that can just get hot out there.”
James Johnson finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals for Dallas, which shot 50.0% from 3-point range on 20 for 40 shooting. The Mavericks were 39 of 79 for 49.4% overall from the field.
Nikola Vucevic guided the Orlando Magic with 30 points and 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. He shot 14-of-24 from the floor and had two steals.
Aaron Gordon, who sat out the heavy 132-90 defeat at the Houston Rockets on Friday because of a sore left hamstring, returned to the lineup on Saturday to finish with 16 points, five assists, and four rebounds for Orlando.
“The team needs me to step up and carry some of the load of initiating the offense,” Gordon said. “I’ve got to take it on my shoulders to get us more organized. There were some times that it was just chaotic.”
Khem Birch had 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals and Terrence Ross ended with 11 points and four boards for the Magic (6-4), who lost two straight and the ninth straight game in Dallas.
Orlando, which was without forward Evan Fournier, who missed his fifth straight game with back spasms, opened the season with a 4-0 record, but has dipped to 2-4 since.
Dallas played without starters Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith, as well as backup point guard Jalen Brunson who were all sidelined due to health and safety protocols.
“We got here at 5 o’clock off the whole thing with the Denver trip,” said Carlisle. “I was really impressed with our level of focus and concentration. And it all started with Luka. He understood exactly what the situation was.”
