Luka Dončić scored 53 points (8 during a 10-0 run in the first quarter), and the Dallas Mavericks went on a 25-10 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-105.
The Pistons led 74-63 with 6:16 left in the third quarter. Spencer Dinwiddie’s driving layup put the Mavericks ahead for good with 11:22 left in the fourth quarter. Dončić scored 11 points and Reggie Bullock Jr. made 2 3-pointers during the run. The Mavericks led 88-84 with 11:01 left.
The Pistons got within 107-105 on Bojan Bogdanovic’s step-back 3-pointer with 1:52 to play, but Dončić answered with a 14-foot fadeaway, and the Pistons got no closer.
Dorian Finney-Smith’s 2 free throws with 7.4 seconds left made it 111-105 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Mavericks outscored the Pistons 13-9. Dončić (No. 7 in clutch points, 2022-23) scored 8 of the Mavericks’ 13 on 3 for 5 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
For the Pistons, Bogdanovic scored 29 points on 10 for 15 shooting.
The Pistons committed 14 turnovers to the Mavericks’ 11. The Mavericks outscored the Pistons 52-26 in the paint. Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes fouled out.