(Basketball news) The Dallas Mavericks bounced back to winning ways after they narrowly beat the inform Philadelphia 76ers 133-126. For the Mavericks, Doncic scored 42 points, Irving added 40 and the new All-Star pairing sparkled throughout as Reggie Bullock scored 15 points and Christian Wood scored 10 points who  were the other double-figure scorers. Irving and Doncic became the first Dallas teammates to score at least 40 in the same game. They were just the fifth pair of players on the same team to do it in regulation in 30 years. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid finished with 35 points while Harden made his first 11 shots including three 3s and six free throws as he finished the first half with 19 points and 10 assists and ultimately finished with 27 points. 

“Luka was ready for the party,” Irving said. “I was ready for the party tonight. It was one of those games where we had some special performances. I’m just grateful that the work translated because it could have gone either way.”

“They were tough with one wizard with the basketball in Luka,” Sixers forward Tobias Harris said. “Now they’ve got two of them out there. Those are tough matchups. They just picked us apart tonight.”

“Everybody they passed to make it,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “You have nights like that, and they had a night like that tonight.”

“If I had to pay to watch someone play, it would be him for sure,” Doncic said of his fellow All-Star starter. “Because some of those moves are incredible.”

The Golden State Warriors thrashed the Los Angeles Clippers 115-91. For the Warriors, Jordan Poole scored 34 points, Klay Thompson had 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds as Green added 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a physical battle all game between rivals fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points as Mason Plumlee had a season-best 20 rebounds and his 14 points. Los Angeles finished just 9 of 43 on 3-pointers as they missed 18 of 19 to begin the second half. Gordon was 2 for 10 on 3s and Russell Westbrook missed all five of his tries while going 3 for 12 from the floor overall to score eight points with the Warriors sagging off him. Clippers have now lost 4 games in a row and are on the verge of moving into the play in zone.

“I just feel there’s a grit that comes with defense that allows you to shake it off and keep playing,” coach Steve Kerr said of his team’s comebacks.

“They got up 11, but we were still right there because we were defending and taking care of the ball,” Draymond Green said. “To have those couple third quarters like we’ve had the last two games gives you something to build upon, you feel good about yourself and also understand what it takes coming out of the half.”

“We’re finding a really good space right now,” Poole said, “we’ve just got to keep it going.”

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