NBA: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic power Mavs past Hawks

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic combined for 51 points and the Dallas Mavericks held off the visiting Atlanta Hawks 109-95 on Thursday.

Irving scored 26 points on 10-for-21 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Doncic, who scored a franchise-record 73 points against the Hawks on Jan. 26 in Atlanta, finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Dallas swept the two-game season series against Atlanta. The win solidified the Mavericks’ hold on the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference, putting them one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans., who were both idle.

The loss dropped Atlanta back into the No. 10 spot, a half-game behind the Chicago Bulls.

P.J. Washington had 19 points and eight rebounds and Derrick Jones Jr. added 14 points for Dallas (46-30), which has won eight of its past nine games.

Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 17 points and seven rebounds and Dejounte Murray chipped in 16 points for Atlanta (36-41). The weary Hawks, playing the second half of a back-to-back set, scored only 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta led 31-25 after one quarter and upped the lead to eight points early in the second quarter. But Doncic, who did not score in the opening quarter, put up 16 in the second and the Mavericks scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 65-57 lead.

Dallas led by as many as 17 in the third quarter and took a 93-81 lead into the fourth quarter. The Hawks got as close as seven points on a basket by Bruno Fernando with 10:52 left, but Irving answered with a 3-pointer to restore the 10-point lead, 96-86, to stop Atlanta’s momentum.

The Mavericks were without Josh Green (ankle) and Dereck Lively II (knee). The Hawks were without Trae Young (torn left finger ligament) and Onyeka Okongwu (sore left big toe).

Dallas completes a home back-to-back set on Friday against the Golden State Warriors. Atlanta completes its two-game road trip on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. — Field Level Media/Reuters