DALLAS (AP) 鈥� Luka Doncic returned from a two-game absence because of a left heel contusion with 27 points on Monday night in the Dallas Mavericks鈥� 132-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The All-Star guard judged the performance 鈥淥K.鈥�
鈥淣othing really special,鈥� added Doncic, who also had seven rebounds and seven assists playing 30 minutes. 鈥淭he important thing was we got the win. I think everybody was involved, and that鈥檚 how we鈥檝e got to play.鈥�
Five Mavericks scored in double figures as they won for the 14th time in their last 17 games and improved to 19-10, fourth in the Western Conference.
Doncic missed his first shot, a 3-pointer, and finished the first quarter 1 of 6 and 0 of 3 behind the arc. He ended up 1 for 7 on 3s.
He scored 10 points in the second quarter and had three and-1s in the first half.
鈥淗e knows how to use his body to position himself,鈥� Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. 鈥淗e knows the space that he has to get to, and he does it at a very high level. So, if it鈥檚 not an and-1, he鈥檚 going to the free throw line. For him being out, getting to the free throw line was important just to get his rhythm.鈥�
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AP NBA:
The Associated Press
