Luka Donic posts triple-double as Mavs dominate Hornets

Dallas guard Luka Doncic outscored the Charlotte Hornets in the first quarter with 21 of his 39 points as part of a triple-double as the visiting Mavericks posted a 130-104 victory Tuesday night.

Doncic also provided 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Mavericks (49-30), who are firmly in fifth in the Western Conference, won for the 15th time in their last 17 games.

Daniel Gafford racked up 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting from the field, with his only misses coming on 2-for-4 shooting at the free-throw line. Kyrie Irving added 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 15 points off the bench.

The Hornets (19-60) cut a 27-point deficit to 108-97, but the comeback stalled in their home finale. The Mavericks turned it back on with a 17-2 run to cruise to the finish.

Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 22 points, rookie Brandon Miller added 21, Davis Bertans had 13 and Grant Williams supplied 12.

This was the final home game for coach Steve Clifford, who will step down at the end of the season and is expected to transition into a front-office role. The Hornets finished 11-30 at home.

Dallas took 50 of its 93 shots from the field from 3-point range, making 17 of those. Charlotte was 10-for-32 on 3s.

Doncic shot 13-for-25 from the field with eight 3-point baskets.

Dallas, which won the first meeting between the teams in November, went up 36-18 by the end of the first quarter. Doncic had 27 points by halftime, with the Mavericks leading 69-47.

Dallas held a 34-15 rebounding edge in the first half.

Former Hornet P.J. Washington, who was traded during the winter, played against Charlotte for the first time. He managed just one point, going 0-for-7 from the field with seven rebounds in 28 minutes as a Dallas starter.