With Curry resting, Doncic and Dirk lift Mavs over Warriors

Luka Doncic had a triple-double, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-best 21 points in a rare start and the Dallas Mavericks capitalized on Stephen Curry's absence to beat the Golden State Warriors 126-91 on Saturday night.

Golden State dropped out of the top seed in the Western Conference to a half-game behind Denver. With Curry resting, Kevin Durant had 25 points and DeMarcus Cousins scored 19. The Warriors were 4 for 30 from 3-point range, with Durant going 0 for 8 and Klay Thompson missing all four of his tries.

Doncic had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Dallas had dropped 12 straight in Oakland since its previous victory in April 2012.

Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoJohn Hefti)

The Mavs never trailed and built their lead to 43 early in the final quarter. Maxi Kleber had 16 points and Ryan Broekhoff added 17 off the bench for Dallas, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

The 40-year-old Nowitzki scored 10 points in the game's opening four minutes, and the Mavericks jumped out to a 22-7 lead. Nowitzki went 8 for 14 from the field, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, in what could be his final visit to Golden State before possibly retiring after the season.

TIP-INS

Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Broekhoff reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Golden State Warriors in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoJohn Hefti)

Mavericks: Doncic had his sixth triple-double of a stellar rookie season. ... Mavs hit 65.2 percent of their shots in the first half, while holding the Warriors to 29.6 percent.

Warriors: The four 3-point makes tied a season low. ... Missed seven of their first eight shots and never really recovered, shooting 40 percent for the game. ... Andrew Bogut, who recently re-signed with the Warriors, also skipped the game for rest.

UP NEXT

Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic, right, dribbles as Golden State Warriors guard Quinn Cook (4) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoJohn Hefti)

Mavericks: Host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. The Mavs just lost 116-100 at Sacramento last Thursday night.

Warriors: Complete a home back-to-back and a three-game homestand Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons.

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Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoJohn Hefti)

Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala reacts after a foul is call in favor of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019 in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoJohn Hefti)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)