DALLAS — Luka Doncic did what new Dallas coach Jason Kidd remembers seeing plenty of times a decade ago as the point guard for the Mavericks.
Dallas fans are getting used to this from the young superstar who took the mantle from fellow European Dirk Nowitzki.
Doncic hit a high-arching 3-pointer at the buzzer, another magical moment for the All-Star to give the Mavericks a 107-104 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday (PH time).
The 22-year-old took the inbound with 11 seconds remaining, dribbled past midcourt toward the left wing and lifted the shot over former teammate Josh Richardson, who was facing the Mavericks for the first time since an offseason trade.
Doncic finished with 33 points to 32 for fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum, who bounced back from two rough shooting nights to help Boston rally from a 17-point halftime deficit with the Celtics missing another All-Star in Jaylen Brown, who has a hamstring injury.
Boston could have had the last shot with Dallas inbounding with eight seconds left on the shot clock, but Smart fouled Doncic in the backcourt with the shot clock down to five because Boston had a foul to give. The foul gave the Mavericks the final possession instead.
TRAIL BLAZERS 105, LAKERS 90
Damian Lillard said some dad time at home with his son helped put him in a good place before facing the Lakers.
Lillard, who has been in a shooting slump, scored 25 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers for a 105-90 victory.
Jusuf Nurkic added 15 points and 17 rebounds for the Blazers, who led by as many as 34 points despite playing the second of a back-to-back.
Former Blazer Carmelo Anthony had 12 points off the bench for the Lakers, who were without LeBron James because of an abdominal strain.
Leading scorer Anthony Davis was questionable for the Lakers going into the game with a thumb strain. He started but played just seven minutes before leaving with a stomach illness.
Russell Westbrook, who was averaging 20.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.1 assists, shot 1 for 13 and finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
SUNS 121, HAWKS 117
Frank Kaminsky spent much of the early part of this season buried on the Phoenix Suns bench.
Suddenly, the big man has swapped that role for burying jumpers and dunks.
Devin Booker scored a season-high 38 points, Kaminsky added 16 and the Suns rallied from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-117.
Mikal Bridges found the 7-foot Kaminsky streaking down the middle of the lane for a dunk with 45 seconds left that gave the Suns a 116-115 lead, their first of the final quarter. After Atlanta’s Trae Young missed a 3-pointer, Booker hit Jae Crowder for a layup and a 118-115 advantage.
Bogdan Bogdanovic shot an airball on an off-balance 3-point attempt with 15 seconds left that effectively ended the Hawks’ chances.
Young led Atlanta with 31 points and 13 assists. John Collins added 26 points and 10 rebounds. Atlanta scored just 19 points in the fourth quarter. (AP)