Luka Doncic amassed 42 points and 12 assists, and Kyrie Irving scored 40 points to lift the host Dallas Mavericks past the Philadelphia 76ers, 133-126, on Thursday, March 2 (Friday, March 3, Manila time).
The Mavericks improved to 2-4 with Doncic and Irving playing together.
Reggie Bullock added 15 and Christian Wood contributed 10 for the Mavericks, who had dropped five of their previous six games.
Dallas shot 25-of-48 (52.1%) from three-point territory, with Doncic and Irving combining to go 13-of-21 (61.9%).
After the Sixers mounted a furious rally, Irving sealed the victory by making two free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining.
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid returned from a one-game absence caused by left foot soreness to score 35 points and grab 8 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey added 29 points. James Harden had 27 points and 13 assists, De’Anthony Melton put up 12 points, and Tobias Harris had 10.
The Sixers ripped off an 11-0 run to get within 131-126 and nearly got closer, but Maxey missed a difficult layup with 12.2 seconds left to end the rally.
The Sixers opened the fourth quarter with a 15-0 run to cut a 19-point deficit to 110-106 when Maxey hit a runner in the lane with 9:22 left.
Irving responded with a three-point play and the Mavericks went ahead by seven.
The Mavericks regained their momentum and took a 122-108 lead on a three-pointer by Bullock with 6:22 remaining.
In the second quarter, Josh Green dropped in a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:15 left as the Mavericks went ahead 65-60.
Embiid responded with a 15-foot jumper and Harden added a three-point play to tie the game at 65 with 1:52 remaining.
Doncic hit a short jumper with 0.8 seconds left and the Mavericks held a 71-67 advantage at halftime. Doncic led the way with 25 points before the break, and Irving added 20.
Harden produced a double-double by halftime with 19 points and 10 assists.
Irving split a double team and hit a difficult layup with 8:14 remaining to cap a 20-4 run to open the third quarter as Dallas pulled ahead 91-71.
Doncic knocked down a stepback trey from 25 feet with 3:43 left in the third, and the Mavericks led 107-82.
Dallas shot 13-of-20 from the field in the third and held a 110-91 advantage at the end of the quarter. – Rappler.com
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