Rookie Matas Buzelis has best game of young career, but Bulls falls to Mavs for 3rd straight loss
DALLAS (AP) — Bulls rookie first-round draft pick and Chicago native Matas Buzelis had the best game of his just-started NBA career on Wednesday night.
But Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has had a lot of great games in his own career, and he added another to lead the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks past the Bulls.
Buzelis — who had totaled five points and four rebounds this season going into the game — finished with 13 points and nine boards, but Doncic totaled 27 points and 13 assists in Dallas’ 119-99 victory, handing Chicago its third straight loss.
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Kyrie Irving scored 17 points and Daniel Gafford also scored 17 playing a season-high 24 minutes for the Mavericks, who scored the first 13 points of the second half and led by as many as 30 while improving to 2-2 on a five-game homestand.
Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 10 rebounds while sitting out the fourth quarter to lead the Bulls.
Dallas played without starting forward P.J. Washington because of a right knee sprain and without Dereck Lively II, who averages the most center minutes as Gafford’s backup, because of a right shoulder sprain.
The Bulls played their second consecutive game without leading scorer Zach LaVine, who has a right adductor strain.
Takeaways
Bulls: On a night when Dallas lacked two of its regular big men, the Bulls were on pace for their most 3-point shots this season at halftime with 27 — but shooting 18.5%. They finished 12-of-42 for 28.6% from behind the arc.
Mavericks: They held their own inside, outscoring the Bulls 60-48 in the paint and standing even on second-chance points, 12-12.
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Key moment
Doncic, Klay Thompson and Irving hit consecutive 3-pointers during a 17-0 run in the first quarter that gave Dallas a 22-9 lead.
Key stat
Dallas led in points off turnovers, 28-13.
Up next
The Mavericks will host the Phoenix Suns on Friday
The Bulls will complete a back-to-back at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Tip-off at the United Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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