By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic fell to the Indiana Pacers, 134-127, in American Airlines Center on Monday.
Completing a back-to-back at home, the Mavs went from defeating the Orlando Magic on NBA Sundays to being forced down to 4-3 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
“Our defense was bad,” Doncic reacted to the high-scoring affair, “We kind of let go tonight. There was a lot of pace in this game. It was hard for a back-to-back.”
The Slovenian sensation poured in a game-high 34 points with 9/24 field goals, including 4/10 three-pointers. His 15 assists shaped a double-double. He added seven rebounds and two steals over 42 minutes.
Down the stretch, Doncic faced additional adversity in the form of a brief heated conversation with Canadian shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin.
“He started talking shit with one minute to go,” he described the situation, “If you are going to talk shit, start early. You know, how I do.”
German teammate Maxi Kleber (right hamstring strain) remained sidelined.
German action in Paycom Center featured the Orlando Magic losing, 102-86, to the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder. Franz Wagner scored a team-high 22 points, while Moritz Wagner and Tristan da Silva registered nine points each.
Georgian big Goga Bitadze recovered from a left foot tendon strain and returned to action with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Coming off the bench for the Thunder, Belgian Ajay Mitchell tallied four points, but French Ousmane Dieng and Dutch Malevy Leons did not score.