DALLAS — Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance with 27 points and 13 assists, while Kyrie Irving added 17 points and Daniel Gafford also contributed 17 points in a season-high 24 minutes as the Dallas Mavericks triumphed over the Chicago Bulls with a score of 119-99 on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks, who are the reigning champions of the Western Conference, jumped out to a dominant start in the second half, scoring the first 13 points and extending their lead to as much as 30 at one point. This victory improved their record to 2-2 in a five-game homestand.
For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds but sat out the entire fourth quarter as Chicago suffered their third consecutive defeat. Rookie Matas Buzelis, who had only managed five points throughout the season before this game, stepped up with 13 points and nine rebounds of his own.
Dallas was missing starting forward P.J. Washington, who is sidelined due to a right knee sprain, and didn’t have Dereck Lively II available, the player who sees the most minutes at center behind Gafford, due to a right shoulder strain.
The Bulls also faced challenges as they played their second straight game without their top scorer, Zach LaVine, who is recovering from a right adductor strain.
In terms of statistics, the Bulls were on track to set a season high for three-point attempts at halftime with 27 attempts, though they struggled with their shooting, making only 18.5%. They ultimately finished with 12 successful three-pointers out of 42 attempts, translating to a shooting percentage of 28.6%.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks effectively dominated inside the paint, outscoring the Bulls 60-48 and matching them in second-chance points at 12 each.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Doncic, alongside Klay Thompson and Irving, connected on three consecutive three-pointers during a remarkable 17-0 run in the first quarter, giving Dallas an early lead of 22-9.
Statistically, the Mavericks were also effective in capitalizing on turnovers, outscoring the Bulls 28-13 in points off turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Bulls are set to complete a back-to-back at home when they face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Mavericks will take on the Phoenix Suns in their next game on Friday.