AP

Doncic, Mavs top Lakers 124-115 to celebrate Nowitzki statue

Dec 25, 2022, 12:24 AM | Updated: 5:41 pm

Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeB...

Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV (4) contest him in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)

(AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)


              Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV (4) contest him in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) gets the crowd energized in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) goes up for a shot while Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Los Angeles Lakers center Thomas Bryant defend him in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) questions the call after getting a technical foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shares a laugh with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James following an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. Dallas won the game by a final of 124-115. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic smiles after a foul is called on him in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) attempts a layup while Dallas Mavericks forward Reggie Bullock (25) and Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) defend him in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) attempts a three-point shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives past Dallas Mavericks forward Reggie Bullock (25) to attempt a layup in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James instructs his teammates on the floor as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic defends him in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
            
              Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) attempts to pass the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks had trailed from the opening bucket when the crowd erupted at the sight of retired star Dirk Nowitzki on the video boards late in the first half.

Nowitzki’s old team joined the celebration soon enough on the day of his statue unveiling.

Doncic scored 32 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 of his 26 points in a huge third quarter for Dallas and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-115 on Sunday.

Christian Wood added 30 points and tied a career high with seven assists as the Mavericks finished off the Nowitzki celebration by winning just the second Christmas Day home game in club history.

Dallas took its first lead during a 51-point third quarter, the highest-scoring quarter on Christmas in NBA history and a league-best this season.

“I think we had to get the jitters out a little bit, some guys’ first time playing on Christmas,” Hardaway said. “Just being able to appreciate the opportunity.”

LeBron James scored 38 points, one shy of his season high, and the Lakers led by 12 early in the third before the Mavericks took over.

Wood started the surge with a 3-pointer, and Dallas was within one when Doncic had a chance to challenge James at the rim but passed to Hardaway for a corner 3 and the first Dallas lead at 65-63.

The Mavericks, who scored just 43 points in the first half and trailed by 11 at the break, didn’t slow down from there.

Doncic, who had six of his nine assists in the quarter, hit three free throws after a foul and a technical against Russell Westbrook, Hardaway scored inside and out and Wood converted a three-point play to break the 50-point mark.

Hardaway was 4 of 5 from deep in the third as Dallas went 9 of 13 as a team and shot 72% overall. Dallas outscored LA 51-21 in the third.

“We talked about before the game just being ready to initiate, sustain and finish with energy, effort and competitiveness,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “We left it in the locker room at halftime.”

Reggie Bullock scored 14 for Dallas on 4-of-7 shooting from long range, where Dallas went 18 of 44 (41%). Six different players had at least two 3s apiece.

CHRISTMAS DO-OVER

Dallas lost its other Christmas Day home game 11 years earlier when Nowitzki was the face of the franchise, and the Mavericks were coming off their only championship. Miami won 105-94 in an opener for the lockout-delayed 2011-12 season.

REPRIEVE FOR DONCIC

Doncic was called for his sixth foul on a charge against Austin Reaves with 3:50 left, but the call was reversed on replay. Reaves was assessed a blocking foul, and Doncic made both free throws. Doncic had nine rebounds.

TIP-INS

Lakers: James’ seven-game run of at least 30 points is the longest active streak in the NBA. … Westbrook scored 17 points, and Reaves had 16.

Mavericks: G Kemba Walker missed a second consecutive game for injury recovery on his left knee. Walker went unsigned the first six weeks of the season. The 32-year-old has a history of knee issues in recent years. … Dallas also was without G/F Dorian Finney-Smith (right abductor strain), G Josh Green (right elbow sprain) and G Frank Ntilikina (left knee soreness).

UP NEXT

Lakers: At Orlando on Tuesday. LA swept the two-game series last season.

Mavericks: Jalen Brunson returns to Dallas with the Knicks on Tuesday. Brunson was drafted in the second round the year Doncic went third overall (2018) and thrived as his sidekick before signing with New York in free agency. The Mavs won the first meeting in New York this month.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Doncic, Mavs top Lakers 124-115 to celebrate Nowitzki statue