Luka Dončić Returns But Mavericks Come Up Short to Warriors 127-125, Rookie Jaden Hardy Drops 27 Off Bench

The Dallas Mavericks welcomed back Luka Doncic after missing five games against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The Mavericks were without Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. for tonight’s game. Josh Green and Maxi Kleber took the starting spots for Irving and Hardaway Jr.

The Mavericks started off the first quarter hot, they took a nine point lead with 3:33 minutes left. Dwight Powell led the Mavs in that run with seven points. Jaden Hardy entered midway through the first quarter and dropped back-to-back three’s giving Dallas a 33-30 lead entering the second quarter.

Hardy led the Mavs entering the second quarter with eight points and he continued to produce the entire game. He added 16 points off the bench entering the fourth quarter and added another 11 points in the fourth. Hardy was 6-of-9 from beyond the arc at 66 percent.

Warriors took a 65-63 lead at the half but it was a fight the entire second half. Wood added 15 points off the bench for the Mavs and played a big role in keeping the Mavs in this game as well as Hardy.

Golden State took a 96-93 lead entering the fourth quarter and Dallas hit some clutch three-pointers down low to tie the game at 103-103 with 8:50 remaining in regulation.

The back and forth continued for the remainder of the fourth quarter. Some clutch shots from Hardy down the stretch kept the Mavs in the game. With under a minute left to play Warriors took the lead and ended up winning the contest.

Luka Doncic led all scorers with 30 points, seven rebounds, and 17 assists.
Jaden Hardy added 27 points off of the bench for the Mavs.

Head Coach Jason Kidd told us after the game that Hardy had a great game and he gave the Mavs that spark of the bench that was much needed.

This is the sixth clutch game that the Mavs have lost since the Kyrie Irving debut, which is most in the NBA. When asked how they fix losing these games Coach Kidd said they have to get better in the final seconds of the game and finish out the game.

Dallas will be back in American Airlines Center on Friday to take on the Hornets at 7:30 PM.