Luka Doncic's Mavs Grind Out Needed Victory Over Heat Amid Recent Struggles

With strong performances from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs pulled out a needed victory over the Heat using strong execution in clutch time.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks needed a game to bounce back after losing five of their last six games entering Thursday's matchup against the Miami Heat. The Mavs pulled out the victory, defeating the Heat with a final score of 114-108. 

Luka Doncic finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, with a highly efficient shot profile, going 12-24 overall, 7-13 perimeter, and 4-4 on free throws. This performance marked four consecutive 35-point triple-doubles for Doncic, the most in NBA history. 

"It's great, especially when it comes with the win," Doncic said. "That's all that matters right now."

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Kyrie Irving supported Doncic with 23 points, four rebounds, and four assists while appearing in a 14th consecutive game — the most he's achieved since 2018. Other double-figure scorers included Dante Exum (13 points), Daniel Gafford (12 points), Tim Hardaway Jr. (11 points), and P.J. Washington (10 points). 

The Heat received a dynamic outing from Terry Rozier, who totaled 27 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. Miami had many players score 10 or more points, including Duncan Robinson (19 points), Jimmy Butler (14 points), Bam Adebayo (14 points), Jaime Jaquez (13 points), and Caleb Martin (13 points). 

After inserting Derrick Jones Jr. and Gafford in the starting lineup in place of Josh Green and Dereck Lively II, the Mavs struggled to execute. Dallas trailed 13-5 early, prompting a timeout to be called. Miami went on to surpass the 20-point threshold before Dallas even scored 10 points. 

"The guys that we asked to come off the bench did a great job tonight," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "I thought D-Live (Dereck Lively II); his energy, he came up with some big defensive stops there and then the offensive rebound was big for us. .... I thought, again, his length on Bam [Adebayo] there at the end, he made him miss and we got stops when we had to. 

"Then, on the offensive end, he came up with a big offensive rebound and threw it out," Kidd explained. "I thought the units that were out there today did a really good job on both ends. We got off to a little bit of a slow start defensively but after the first quarter, I thought that the units out there were really good."

After the Mavs trailed 21-7, Doncic led a 7-2 run with a timeout forcing made step-back 3-pointer, bringing the Mavs within single figures midway through the period. Dallas continued to chip away at Miami's lead, even coming within two points at multiple moments early in the second quarter after tightening up defensively. 

"Just being tied together. It's not easy. There's going to be ups and down. You're going to be tested," Kidd said. "I thought the group that started, we got backdoored a little bit too much trying to make sure Duncan [Robinson] wasn't going to shoot 3s and he back cut us a little bit. Jimmy [Butler] got to the middle, which he loves to do, and then that puts a lot of pressure on the defense so that opened up some 3s. But I thought the guys, again, mentally stayed the course, no one panicked, and we got a good home win."

There was a stretch when the Mavs nearly tied on a few possessions, but were unable to complete dunk attempts to do so. Dallas went from trailing 46-44 with Doncic on the floor to trailing by six entering a timeout with 5:35 left to play before halftime. 

After Gafford converted on a putback, the Mavs briefly tied it up at 50-50 but allowed a 5-0 run. Dallas went on to trail 58-54 at halftime. Exum had provided a spark off the bench throughout the first half, often taking on tough defensive assignments and providing a needed additional ball handler. 

“We were having more energy and more communication," Doncic said. "I think those two things.” 

A pull-up from beyond the arc by Irving tied it up 65-65 midway through the third quarter as Dallas tightened up its defensive execution for a stretch. There was more of a focus to work the ball through Doncic in the post, often attacking a small guard like Rozier. The Mavs ultimately took a 69-68 lead using a short-range jumper by Irving, assisted by Doncic. 

After Irving went to the bench, Exum helped Doncic guide the Mavs on a run, resulting in a 76-71 advantage with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter. Exum helped get multiple defensive stops, then pushed the pace to get the ball to Doncic, who made a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer on one play before finding Lively after passing out of a shot for a wide-open dunk on another.  

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Another catch-and-shoot 3-pointer by Doncic extended the Mavs' advantage to 97-93, The momentum continued in the Mavs' favor, ultimately achieving a double-figure advantage for the first time after Maxi Kleber converted on a corner 3-pointer from Doncic's assist. The lead reached as large as 11 before the end of the period, with Doncic hitting another catch-and-shoot jumper from beyond the arc before ending the frame up 91-83. 

Miami had a strong start to the fourth quarter before Doncic checked back into the game and continued it when he was on the floor. Using a 14-4 run, the Heat regained a two-point lead, before Doncic hit a contested, fading corner 3-pointer. Both sides traded leads midway through the period using big shots from superstars. 

"Obviously, a lot of balls didn't bounce our way towards the end," Rozier said. "Whenever you have Luka on your team, and Kyrie, it's kind of tough. We made some good plays at the end but came up short. It's unfortunate."

Neither team led by more than one possession until clutch time when Exum and Doncic both converted from deep to put Dallas up 106-101. Miami immediately responded with a 3-point make of its own. With Irving standing out-of-bounds on a catch in the corner on one play, he responded by making it the following trip down the floor. Dallas was up by five once again. 

“I think it’s always about being ready," Exum said. "You know obviously I haven’t closed a game in a long time but I’m always ready – that’s the biggest thing. I know they are gonna double both of them [Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic] so it’s better for me to come back to the ball and when I get the free throws just be confident on them.” 

Luka Doncic Makes NBA Triple-Double History in Mavs' Clutch Win Over Heat

Exum hit a needed 3-pointer to put the Mavs up by seven, providing enough of an advantage for Dallas to close out the game with a victory. He made a needed impact alongside Doncic and Irving. Lively got a pivotal defensive stop against Bam Adebayo but was kneed in the calf in the process. 

“Yeah, you can see it in a lot of situations when they get downhill and me being able to knock down shots too, but it’s just being able to play of different plays and scenarios," Exum said.

Looking ahead, the Mavs will play out a two-game Eastern Conference road trip, including matchups against the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.