By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic just missed the triple double on the way to the 103-84 win of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifals over the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns still have a 2-1 lead, all their starters scored in double digits, but none had over 20, while Doncic was impressive once more with 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.
German big man Maxi Kleber came from the bench and added 14 points. Jalen Brunson with 28 points was the top scorer of the winning side.
Latvian forward Davis Bertans and French guard Frank Ntilikina played for Dallas but didn’t score.
Joel Embiid inspired the 76ers with his return from a facial injury and also 18 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey each scored 21 points and Philadelphia beat the Miami Heat 99-79 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Heat lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Wearing a hammer-tested mask, Embiid was back with no minutes restrictions after missing the first two games of the series with a right orbital fracture and a mild concussion suffered in the last round.
Despite the final point difference it was not an easy win.
Tyler Herro with two threes in the final minute pulled the Heat to 68-65 to close the third quarter. In total he had 14 and joined Jimmy Butler as the only Heat in double digits. Butler led the Heat with 33 points.
But Embiid and the Sixers turned things around and in the end kept their distance. Turkish forward Furkan Korkmaz was used for six minutes without scoring for the Sixers, while his compatriot Omer Yurtseven had one rebound for the Heat.