All-Star Luka Doncic has led the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to a 111-103 victory over Utah, snapping a nine-game winning for the NBA leading Jazz.
While two Dallas starters failed to score, Doncic had 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Dorian Finney-Smith added a season-high 23 points.
Jalen Brunson scored 20 points, Josh Richardson 17 and Tim Hardaway Jr. 16 as Dallas won for the first time in three games against their conference foes this season.
“Everyone had confidence,” Doncic said.
“Any NBA team can beat you. Obviously this one, they’re first in the west or second, so obviously it’s a big win.”
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was pleased to hold the NBA’s third-highest scoring team, averaging 117.2 points going in, to their lowest point total in almost two months.
Mike Conley returned to the Jazz starting five with 28 points while Australian Joe Ingles was a bit-part contributor off the bench.
In 13 games that Ingles has started the Jazz are 12-1.
Despite the loss, Utah have the best record in the league at 38-12. Dallas are seventh in the western conference.
In the eastern conference, the Brooklyn Nets edged the New York Knicks 114-112 to take sole possession of top spot, one game clear of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kyrie Irving scored 40 points while Jeff Green made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to seal the win, which came at a cost.
James Harden returned after missing two games with right hamstring tightness but lasted just four minutes before having to leave the game with the same injury.
The Nets were hoping to finally be whole again this week but now with Harden hurt again it’s unclear if they’ll be able to put either of their other superstars out there with Irving.
Kevin Durant shot around before the game and coach Steve Nash said he was hopeful the All-Star forward would be ready to play for the first time since February 13.
“But it’s definitely not set in stone,” Nash said.
The Nets’ Big Three have played just seven times since Harden was acquired nearly three months ago.
Australia centre Aron Baynes made his 21 minutes of game time count with 10 points and eight rebounds in the Toronto Raptors’ 103-101 defeat of the Washington Wizards while Matthew Dellavedova’s Cleveland Cavaliers got the better of fellow Boomers guard Patty Mills’ San Antonio Spurs 125-101.