New York — With one star again for Dallas and one other one sidelined for Brooklyn, the NBA’s longest profitable streak was halted quite simply.

Luka Doncic scored 27 factors, Kristaps Porzingis added 18 in his return from harm and the Mavericks snapped the Nets’ eight-game run with a 115-98 victory Saturday evening.

James Harden had 29 factors for the Nets, however solely 4 after halftime whereas taking part in as Brooklyn’s solo celebrity with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sidelined.

“Clearly, that they had two nice gamers out however he is an incredible participant. It is very robust to cease him,” Doncic stated. “We did an awesome job within the second half. I believe it was manner higher.”

Durant missed his seventh straight recreation with a left hamstring pressure and Irving rested his surgically repaired proper shoulder. That took greater than 56 factors per recreation away from the NBA’s highest-scoring group and Brooklyn managed simply 34 factors after halftime.

“Look, I do know they’re down a few superstars, however to carry them to 18 and 16 within the second half is fairly rattling good,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle stated.

Porzingis missed final three video games with decrease again tightness and shook off his rust after halftime to assist Dallas break open the sport.

Main by 4 at halftime, the Mavericks got here out for the third quarter centered on throwing the ball inside to the 7-foot-Three Latvian, who has 7 inches on any starter within the Nets’ small-ball beginning lineup. He responded with 10 factors within the quarter, together with a three-point play that capped an 11-2 spurt and pushed Dallas’ result in 85-74.

It grew to become 91-76 when Dorian Finney-Smith blocked Harden’s shot to result in Tim Hardaway Jr.’s basket. Dallas put it away with 12 straight factors early within the fourth, making it 106-84 and shortly after Harden was eliminated for good.

“That second half we simply did not have any legs,” Harden stated.

Jalen Brunson scored 14 factors for the Mavericks, who cut up video games towards the East’s prime groups after shedding at Philadelphia on Thursday, once they dedicated a season-high 22 turnovers. That they had solely 9 Saturday.

Doncic and Harden every scored 15 factors within the first quarter, however the Mavs gave extra assist to their level guard and led 38-26 after capturing 61%. Brooklyn lower it to 68-64 at halftime, when Harden had 25.

Notes

Mavericks: Doncic turns 22 on Sunday. He had seven assists and 6 rebounds. … Hardaway had 13 factors.

Nets: It was a traditionally late evening in Brooklyn for the NBA’s Saturday evening recreation of the week. The Nets stated that going again 30 years — so far as Elias has tracked recreation time data — it was the primary time they tipped off a house recreation at 8:30 p.m. EST or later. … Brooklyn had gained 9 straight towards West groups.

Irving’s harm

Coach Steve Nash stated he did not consider Irving’s harm was critical, calling it a upkeep challenge. It is the second recreation Irving has sat out to relaxation the shoulder, which restricted him to 20 video games final season.

“I’d count on him to play subsequent recreation and if not, I do not suppose it is a factor that may linger into the All-Star break,” Nash stated.

Nash and Nowitzki

Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, former Mavericks stars who’re shut mates, have been presupposed to attend the BNP Paribas Open tennis event in Indian Wells, California, along with their households final March. Nash was already in California as a result of Nowitzki canceled his journey and the event grew to become the primary main sports activities occasion known as off within the U.S. due to coronavirus issues.

“You possibly can type of sense it coming and it was a type of issues I believe the place all of us had that type of disbelief that this was truly going to snowball into this, however right here we’re a 12 months later and it is extra actual than ever,” Nash stated. “So robust, robust time for everybody. We have misplaced lots of people and we’re not by way of this factor within the slightest but.”

Up subsequent

Mavericks: Go to Orlando on Monday evening.

Nets: Go to San Antonio, the place they’ve misplaced 17 straight video games, on Monday evening.