The NBA’s Christmas quintuple-header ended with the Dallas Mavericks beating down the Phoenix Suns, taking a short break, then beating them down again.
The Mavericks won 128-114, with Luka Doncic scoring 50 points plus 15 assists, to close out a five-game Christmas slate that also saw the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks, the Denver Nuggets topped the Golden State Warriors, the Boston Celtics steamrolled the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat held off the Philadelphia 76ers.
There wasn’t a classic game like some previous Christmases, but the Celtics still managed to make a statement as the top team in the NBA. And it’s always fun to watch Doncic have one of those games where he drops haymaker after haymaker.
Here’s all the action as it happened:
Live166 updates
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This looked like it could be a huge win for the Suns for about five minutes. Instead, the Mavericks regain their footing and win 128-114. The Suns fall to 14-15, 11th in the Western Conference and out of the play-in picture.
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Durant with 6 of Phoenix’s 15 turnovers
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) December 26, 2023
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This is Dallas’ 7th Christmas game. Doncic’s 48 points breaks his own Mavs Christmas scoring record of 32, which he set against the Lakers in 2022.
Doncic’s 13 assists breaks the Mavs Christmas record of 11 set by Steve Nash in 2003.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 26, 2023
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As expected Luka reached 10,000 career pts tonight. Per my research confirmed by @MavsPR/@EliasSports, he’s fastest among active players & tied for 7th fewest games in NBA history
Wilt 236
MJ 303
Baylor 315
Kareem 319
Oscar 334
Gervin 355
McAdoo 358
Luka 358
Barry 360
LeBron 368— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) December 26, 2023
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The Suns have continued to force the Mavs to operate out of 4-on-3s often, but Dallas has deployed Derrick Jones Jr. more as the screener in the last recent stretch. Tim Hardaway Jr. hits a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 113-106 with 5:16 left to play.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 26, 2023
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Mavs have limited Durant to 16 and Booker to 14, which is great until you realize Grayson Allen has 30 and Metu has 21.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 26, 2023
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Luka Doncic now has 17 regular season games with 40+ points and 10+ assists, tying Russell Westbrook for the 4th most in NBA history. Only Oscar Robertson (46), James Hardne (31), and Tiny Archibald (23) have more.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 26, 2023
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Luka Doncic and Grayson Allen both have eight 3-pointers. Luka on 14 tries, Allen on 15. No shortage of entertainment on this Christmas Day finale. Mavs down 102-101 with nine minutes to go.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) December 26, 2023
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Suns played Book and KD for the entire 3rd quarter while Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon scored as many points (27) as entire Mavericks team
Cue up the 4th quarter — where Phoenix is dead last in points, 3%, and net rating entering tonight. Going to be some tired legs out there
— Law Murray ✂️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) December 26, 2023
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Got action in the crowd too.
A little dustup. Sure it’ll be on Twitter soon. Saw a bunch of cameras filming. #Suns up two after Luka 3.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 26, 2023
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Suns up 1 entering the 4th. Doncic with 38-4-10 on 19 shots. Allen up to 27.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023
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This game is getting chippy.
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Booker had the foul on Williams that kept Williams down on the floor for a bit.
Next time down, Williams tries to run through Booker on a screen. Booker protests to his face. Kerfuffle ensues.
Ruling is a double technical foul + the initial foul on Williams.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023
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Mavericks have been outscored 35-20 in the third quarter with Grant Williams going to the line. The Suns lead 89-84.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) December 26, 2023
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Josh Okogie went back to the locker room after checking out. Looked a little hobbled heading to the bench
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 26, 2023
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Booker making all the right reads off his penetration the last 2 quarters and every one that ends in a misplay is driving him nuts. Not one to show his frustration in those instances on the floor but has a few times tonight.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023
