Led by Luka Doncic’s near triple-double, Mavericks get much-needed win over Pistons - The Dallas Morning News

Perhaps you heard some groans echo across Dallas around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

If so, it’s a safe bet they were in response to yet another Mavericks first-quarter deficit, their foil in a recent playoff-hampering losing skid.

But as the Mavericks settled in during the second quarter of their 127-117 home win over the Pistons, fans around town likely calmed down, too.

Buoyed by Luka Doncic’s near triple-double (30 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists), the Mavericks outscored the Pistons 29-13 in the last 7:42 of the first half to take control against a team bound for the top of the draft lottery.

The matchup might’ve appeared to be lopsided statistically. But, given the Mavericks’ recent problems and with two games in three days against the defending champion Lakers looming, Dallas knew its slow start turned steady finish against Detroit was no guarantee.

“We’ve got to transfer that to every game,” Doncic said. “We’ve got to play hard, play with energy and do it every game.”

After Tuesday’s practice, coach Rick Carlisle said, “Everything’s on the table,” hinting at lineup changes after the Mavericks had lost four of their last five games, failing to improve their No. 7 Western Conference playoff standing.

He made one switch: Dwight Powell replaced Maxi Kleber as a starter, shifting Kristaps Porzingis (19 points) from center to power forward in the opening minutes.

But that still didn’t jump-start his team. Despite 11 points from Doncic, the Mavericks trailed by as many as eight and entered the second quarter down, 36-33.

The player most responsible for erasing the Mavericks’ eighth consecutive first-quarter deficit came off the bench.

Jalen Brunson tallied 20 points, including 13 in the second. He dominated with a personal 7-0 run on four consecutive possessions and finished the quarter 6 for 6 from the field with two assists.

The 24-year-old Brunson missed the Mavericks’ Disney World bubble playoff run last summer. He was in Dallas rehabbing after March shoulder surgery.

Eager for what he hopes will be his NBA playoff debut in less than a month, Brunson didn’t want the Mavericks to falter for the third time in the last two weeks against an opponent with a bottom-seven record.

“When it comes to winning games,” Brunson said, “we’re going to have to play some defense.”

The Mavericks employed a 2-3 zone defense for long stretches of the game, keeping Detroit’s offense out of rhythm after Jerami Grant’s 15 first-quarter points.

Grant’s foul trouble helped stymie the Pistons’ upset bid.

So, too, did the electric confidence Doncic flashed minutes later, when he banked in a 36-foot 3-pointer from just to the left of the center-court logo, adding a little heel flick at the end for good measure.

Still, the Mavericks’ third win in their last eight games didn’t come without potential costs.

Kleber suffered a lower back contusion after taking a charge against Tyler Cook early in the second quarter and missed the entire second half.

Carlisle said X-rays on Kleber’s back were negative, “but he’s got a pretty substantial bruise.”

Brunson, Doncic and Josh Richardson also endured hard falls.

They’ll have less than a day to recover before facing the Lakers on Thursday.

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Led by Luka Doncic’s near triple-double, Mavericks get much-needed win over Pistons - The Dallas Morning News
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