DALLAS – Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle described the first game without top scorers Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis as a great challenge.
The rest of the team accepted that challenge.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points in his ninth start of the season, Dorian Finney-Smith matched a career high with 22 points and Maxi Kleber added 18 as Dallas beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-100 on Saturday night in a game between teams with depleted rosters.
“My mentality stayed the same,” said Brunson, who’s in his second NBA season. “I just was seizing the opportunity a little more.”
Doncic sprained his right ankle Thursday at practice and isn’t expected back until Feb. 10 at the earliest. Dallas was playing for the second straight night, and Porzingis sat out this one while recovering from a left knee injury. Carlisle said that decision was made before the Mavericks played on Friday night at Houston, where Porzingis scored a season-high 35 points in 36 minutes against the Rockets.