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TORONTO — On Luka Doncic’s 25th birthday,

TORONTO — The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Toronto Raptors 136-125 on Luka Doncic’s 25th birthday, ending a two-game losing streak. After suffering setbacks to the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, coach Jason Kidd emphasized the importance of putting on a strong showing, referring to it as a “big character game.” Kidd declared before to the game, “This is a big character game.” “I believe we improved in the Cleveland game compared to how we performed in the fourth quarter at Indiana. Therefore, maybe we can continue to progress.
The Raptors jumped off to an early lead of 6-2, but the Mavs prevented Toronto from controlling the game. Early on in the game, Luka Doncic found P.J. Washington for an alley-oop pass that resulted in a slam on a cut as a double team approached, giving Dallas a 16–14 lead against the Raptors. By assaulting the paint in the middle of the first quarter, the Raptors gained momentum. Following Immanuel Quickly’s scoop finish, Toronto led 23–18.
When Doncic fired a no-look hook ball to find Tim Hardaway Jr. in the weak-side corner for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer against a double team, the Mavericks took a three-point lead again. After a challenging and-one floater by Doncic, the Mavs briefly led 46–39, but a video review resulted in Kyrie Irving’s pull-up two being ruled incorrect, changing the score. The Mavs found it difficult to limit turnovers as Toronto shot only 42.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Before the half, neither team was able to establish any distance. After a 5-0 run to end the second quarter, the Raptors led 67-66. The Raptors routinely double-teamed Doncic in an aggressive manner, which produced an unusual volume ofseveral errors over the first 45 minutes. Before the half, Doncic had scored 14 points, disheveled eight assists, pulled down four rebounds, and shot 4–12 from the field and 1-6 from beyond the arc with four turnovers.
Dereck Lively II gave the Mavs a powerful boost in the paint after the break, and Doncic was more active off the ball and often found teammates on passes. Midway through the third quarter, Dallas led 84-79 after to an 8-0 run that included baskets from Irving, Lively, Doncic, and Washington. Related: Luka Doncic of the Mavs will play the Raptors to celebrate his 25th birthday. Doncic used his post moves to draw a double team before the ball found Dante Exum, who was playing for the first time after missing 13 games due to injury, for a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. The Mavs extended their lead to 14 points on many occasions thanks to Doncic’s prolific paint-attacking, deft off-two play, and and-one transition dunk pass to Daniel Gafford… Dallas led 106-92 after the Mavs outscored the Raptors 40-25 in the third quarter. Irving had a brilliant fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 29 points in that one quarter alone, and Toronto was unable to come back. Midway through the last quarter, Dallas led by 14 and easily won the game.