DALAS – Luka Doncic had 41 points as the Dallas Mavericks scored an embarrassing 102-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
A long three-pointer by Doncic gave the Mavericks a 100-96 lead, one minute to go.
Toronto reached two points and Pascal Siakam had a steal, but Fred VanVleet and Chris Boucher missed shots that were worth three points.
Christaps Porzingis put the final touches with free throws, finishing the night with 18 points.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 points for the Mavericks, who won their fourth straight game.
Fifth in the West, the Mavericks have lost just once in 11 games.
Doncic had 14 rebounds, tying his personal best of the 2021-22 season.
Siakam scored 20 points, OG Anunoby 19 and VanVleet 18.
The Raptors made only a quarter of three-point shots. They also lost five free throws, against only one for the Mavericks.
In a six-game winning streak, the Raptors have lost four to five times, including three to five in a row or less.
Nick Nurse used just seven players.
VanVleet was just three of 15 from the three-pointer, but a pass reduced Dallas’ lead to 96-95. That was before Doncic played again.
Injured in the left ankle, Gary Trent lost the sixth game in a row.
Toronto (21-21) is 10th in the East, half a game ahead of New York.
The Raptors complete a five-game road trip on Friday in Washington.
The Wizards, the Hornets and the Celtics are also fighting for 7-10 places.
Charlotte will play in Toronto on Tuesday.
Joel Embiid: 50 points in 27 minutes
Joel Embiid tied with 50 points in his career in just 27 minutes, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-110 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Embiid also added 12 rebounds and three blocks while making 17 of 23 shots and 15 of 17 free throws.
He played only 58 seconds in the fourth quarter.
“I felt good,” Embiid told NBATV, whose statistics for the night also show 12 rebounds and three blocks.
“I play my game, I dominate like I did all season,” continued the best player of the night.
Thus, the Cameroonian is combined with Wilt Chamberlain and Allen Iverson, the only 76ers who have managed games with more than 50 points.
Tobias Harris added 21 points for the 76ers, who have won nine of their last 11 games.
Mo Baba set a career record of 32 points, including seven three-pointers for Orlando. The Magic have the worst record in the NBA with 8-38. This is his third consecutive defeat and his 13th defeat in the last 14 games.
The Nets get away with it
In Washington, the Brooklyn Nets came out of the Wizards’ trap, signing a very close victory with 119-118, their first after the knee injury, on Saturday, of their star Kevin Durant.
Kyrie Irving led the Nets by 30 points, the highest level since returning to the team despite his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Irving can only play outdoor games, while the vaccination obligation in force in New York prevents him from stepping on the floor of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Leading with 16 points in the third quarter, Kyle Kuzma allowed Washington to return to a single point with 36.6 seconds left in the game.
Irving’s misplaced three-pointer kept the hope alive for the hosts, but the last three-pointer attempts by Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie failed.
The Nets retain third place in the Eastern District behind Chicago and Miami.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Trail Blazers 92 – Heat 104
POR: Anferny Simmons had 27 points and seven assists
MIA: Caleb Martin has 26 points
Timberwolves 122 – Hawks 134
MIN: D’Angelo Russell had 31 points
ATL: Trae Young had 37 points and 14 assists
Hornets 111 – Celtics 102
CHA: Terry Rozier scored a total of 28 points
BOS: Dennis Schroeder scored 24 points
Grizzlies 114 – Bucks 126
MEM: Another dominant performance by Ja Morant with 33 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists
MIL: Giannis Antitokoumbo had the best with 33 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists
Cavaliers 104 – Bulls 117
CLE: Laurie Markanen scored 28 points
CHI: DeMar DeRozan scored a total of 30 points
Thunder 96 – Spurs 118
OKC: Aaron Wiggins has 19 points
SA: Hat-trick for Dejude Murray with 23 points, ten rebounds and 14 assists
Rockets 116 – Jazz 111
HOU: Surprise victory for the Rockets thanks to the 23 points of Garrison Mathews
UTA: Bojan Bogdanovic scored 29 points, scoring just 11 of his 27 shooting attempts.
Pistons 133 – King 131
DET: Saddiq Bay shone with 30 points in the victory
SAC: 27 points, six rebounds and eight assists for De’Aaron Fox
Clippers 128 – Nuggets 130
LAC: Ivica Zubac made one of the best games of his career with 32 points and 10 rebounds
DEN: Incredible performance of 49 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists by Nikola Jokic
Pacers 111 – Lakers 104
IND: Triple 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Domantas Samponis
LAL: The Lakers took the lead in the 4th quarter, despite the 30 points of LeBron James
