Doncic scores 32, Gafford shines in Dallas debut as Mavs thump Thunder 146-111
DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks is congratulated by P.J. Washington #25 after a score during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on February 10, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE
DALLAS (AP) - Luka Doncic scored 32 points, and the Dallas Mavericks matched their longest winning streak of the season at four games in a 146-111 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Daniel Gafford had 19 points and nine rebounds in his Dallas debut alongside P.J. Washington after both were acquired in trades before Thursday's deadline.
Gafford, who wasted no time bringing energy off the bench as he will be expected to do when rookie Dereck Lively II returns from a broken nose, came from the Washington Wizards.
Washington, who scored 14 points, came from Charlotte, and both newcomers had alley-oop dunks on assists from Doncic within minutes of entering the game in the first quarter.
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Doncic, who sat the fourth quarter, had nine assists and eight rebounds as Dallas improved to 4-0 with Doncic and Irving in the lineup since Irving's return from a sprained thumb.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points for the Thunder, who got Gordon Hayward from the Hornets at the deadline but aren't expected to play the 2017 All-Star before next week's All-Star break.
The Mavs tied their highest-scoring quarter of the season with a 47-30 lead after the first, led by 18 points from Doncic as the Thunder allowed their most points in a quarter in 2023-24.
Oklahoma City, which came in a half-game behind Minnesota for the best record in the Western Conference, got as close as four midway through the second quarter after trailing by 22 late in the first.
The Mavericks were back in control in the second half when Gafford rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Irving and got fouled on the put-back. His free throw put Dallas up 110-89 in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Irving had eight assists, including the 4,000th of his career in the second quarter, as the Mavs finished one point off their season high.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Hosts Sacramento to finish a back-to-back Sunday.
Mavericks: Hosts Washington on Monday.