Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks players may become very familiar with the European Union if team governor Mark Cuban has his way. 

Cuban told the New York Times' Marc Stein he'd like to schedule NBA preseason games against Real Madrid and in Slovenia when the COVID-19 pandemic slows enough to allow for international travel.

Those two scenarios aren't a coincidence. Luka Doncic is a native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and spent four seasons at Real Madrid before making the leap to the NBA. Doncic was the 2018 EuroLeague MVP while leading Madrid to a title in the competition.

Playing abroad isn't that rare for NBA teams. Through its Global Games initiative, the league has routinely staged events in international markets to increase its foothold around the world.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told reporters in December people within the league "do anticipate that once it becomes healthy and safe to be able to do that that we'll return to a schedule of international preseason and regular-season games."

Because of Doncic, the Mavericks are one of the more obvious teams to take part when that starts back up again. Beyond his European connection, the 21-year-old is poised to be one of the biggest faces of the NBA—if he isn't already—when LeBron James eventually retires.

The league's decision to pit the Mavericks against the Los Angeles Lakers in prime time on Christmas Day reinforced how important the NBA expects Doncic to be going forward.

It isn't every day that a player takes the full blame for a loss after posting a triple-double, but Luka Doncic did just that after the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, 117-101.

"The second half, I played terrible," Doncic told reporters. "That's on me, that game. I was being selfish a little bit because I had 30 points in the first half. That wasn't me in the second half. I've got to do way better in the second half. That's just on me. I've got to do way better."

Doncic posted 36 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in the loss.

Yes, Doncic only had six points in the second half, but he also had 10 assists in the final 24 minutes. Nonetheless, the young superstar said he was "taking some shots I shouldn't be taking."

Those comments will likely earn Doncic some respect in the locker room. Hard not to like a guy who posts literally historic numbers and then publicly says the buck stops with him in a loss.

"The stats are spectacular," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said. "I mean, 36, 16 and 15, it's phenomenal, but without a win, he won't be happy with it, either. Right now, we're entering the most difficult seven days of scheduling in Mavericks history. Individual stats are impressive, but we're in the business of trying to win games."

After the game, Kristaps Porzingis had Doncic's back.

"We were all disappointed with our performances," he said. "It is what it is. He always expects greatness from himself. I'm the same way. We have a lot of high-character guys that want to do the right thing on the court. It's a team game, so we have to find ways how to play for each other so we can feed off of each other's energy."

Despite Doncic's MVP level of play this season, the Mavericks have started just 6-6 and now enter a brutal stretch with four more games in the next six days, with three of them on the road. How the Mavericks handle the run of games will say a lot about where they are as a team. Based on Sunday's postgame remarks, they aren't happy with how the week began.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic discussed his frustration with head coach Rick Carlisle not calling a timeout during a possession in the waning seconds of a 112-109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

With the Mavs trailing by two, Trey Burke missed a three-point attempt, Dallas got the offensive board, and Kristaps Porzingis was way off on a three-point attempt, which allowed Milwaukee to secure the rebound with 7.8 seconds remaining.

After the sequence, Doncic angrily gestured toward the sideline, suggesting that he thought a timeout should have been called.

Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Doncic said the following regarding the situation after the game: "It's Coach's decision, but if we would have made the shot, everything would be good. ... But I don't know. It's Coach's decision to call a timeout or no, so I think it's good."

Carlisle also chimed in, saying: "Look, we got two good shots and we preserved a timeout. As a coach, that's all you can hope for in that situation."

The Mavs fell to 6-5 on the season with the loss and wasted a big-time performance from Doncic, who fell just shy of a triple-double with 28 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds.

The Bucks, who continued to roll and improved to 9-4, were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who poured in a game-high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds.

While it was a disappointing conclusion for Doncic and the Mavericks, they were red-hot entering the game with four straight wins, and they hold a half-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for first place in the Western Conference's Southwest Division.

With Doncic hitting his stride and Porzingis back in the lineup, the Mavs figure to have plenty of wins ahead of them this season and perhaps even a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Milwaukee Bucks took down a depleted Dallas Mavericks team 112-109 at Fiserv Forum on Friday as two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo went off for 31 points.

The visitors were forced to play without Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell and Josh Richardson and started Wes Iwundu, Willie Cauley-Stein and Tim Hardaway Jr. alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis instead. 

It was the second game back for Porzingis after making his season debut Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, which saw him tally 16 points and four rebounds despite tweaking his ankle. 

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Dallas (6-5) and gave the Bucks (9-4) their fourth consecutive victory.

Notable Performers

Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks: 28 points, 13 assists, 9 rebounds

Kristaps Porzingis, F, Dallas Mavericks: 15 points, 10 rebounds, 6-for-19 FG

Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks: 31 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 turnovers

Khris Middleton, SF, Milwaukee Bucks: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists 

Giannis' Weakness Nearly Costs Bucks 

It's not often there's an obvious gripe against a two-time MVP, but the do-it-all forward just can't seem to build confidence from the free-throw line. 

On Friday, he went just 1-for-10 from the line despite shooting 14-for-21 from the field overall. In a game decided by one possession, leaving nine points at the stripe is akin to a sin for Milwaukee, especially since Antetokounmpo's struggles led to more passive play from the MVP down the stretch. 

Instead of driving to score and drawing fouls, Antetokounmpo began settling for jumpers late, each miss opening the door a bit wider for a Dallas comeback. After trailing since the score read 10-9 in the first quarter, the Mavs jumped ahead 105-103 with 2:41 left in regulation. 

That could have been the moment when Antetokounmpo amped up his aggressiveness and began overpowering a short-handed Dallas team in the paint. With Cauley-Stein, Doncic and James Johnson in foul trouble, it seemed like an obvious play. 

Instead, the Bucks turned to Khris Middleton to restore the lead. The wing sank back-to-back threes to retake the lead, and Milwaukee escaped. 

Antetokounmpo entered Friday shooting just 61.8 percent on free throws. Considering he hasn't been above 75 percent since the 2017-18 season, this isn't surprising, but it is a new low. Antetokounmpo has never finished a season shooting below 63.3 percent from the line. 

The Bucks were lucky it didn't cost them a win Friday. It may only be a matter of time before that's no longer the case. 

Porzingis' Slow Start Continues

With a truncated preseason and copious COVID-19 policies in place, it was always going to be tough for Porzingis to return to form this year. 

The 25-year-old missed the first nine games of the Mavericks' regular season, and the rust he's accumulated since hasn't been hard to spot. That isn't to say Porzingis was awful Friday, though his game left plenty to be desired, but the margin for error is more noticeable than ever—especially in arenas where players are constantly spread out. 

Against the Bucks, Porzingis' flaws were exposed while he struggled to find his rhythm. It's not hard to imagine this could have been a Mavs blowout with even an average shooting performance from the seven-footer. Instead, he opened up two for 14 from the field, missing all four of his shots in the paint during the first quarter.

Jacking up a deep three-pointer with eight seconds left down by two may have been his worst decision. Already not shooting well, Porzingis' would-be game-winner clanked off the backboard without getting close to the rim.

Milwaukee would walk away with the win sealed after that miss.

The big man just couldn't help but telegraph his moves, and the Bucks were all too eager to read them. That's how Milwaukee's Brook Lopez was able to easily sky for a block on a strong drive down the lane or how Antetokounmpo was able to spin off him in the post for a simple layup. 

It may take a few more games for Porzingis to return to being the difference-maker who averaged 20.4 points and 9.5 assists last year.

How long that process takes—and how long of a leash head coach Rick Carlisle will give Porzingis—will say plenty about the Mavs' season. 

What's Next

The Mavericks return home to face the Chicago Bulls at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday before heading back out on a three-game road trip Monday. The Bucks, meanwhile, head to Brooklyn for a Monday night showdown against James Harden and the new-look Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.       

The Dallas Mavericks stormed back from a 12-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 124-117 in overtime at Ball Arena on Thursday night. 

Both teams have struggled to find wins early this season, but Thursday's victory brought the Mavs (4-4) to an even .500 as Luka Doncic led the way with 38 points. The Nuggets dropped to 3-5 on the year despite another efficient performance from Nikola Jokic, who is quickly distinguishing himself as one of the best players in the league. 

The nationally televised contest was another opportunity for Jokic and Doncic to show off their diverse skill sets as Denver played without forward Michael Porter Jr. The second-year player has been sidelined for the past four games in accordance with the league's health and safety protocols. 

Dallas has now won three of its last four contests and is tied with the New Orleans Pelicans atop the Southwest division.

Notable Performers

Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks: 38 points, 13 assists, 9 rebounds, 4 steals

Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, Dallas Mavericks: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals

Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets: 38 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists

Jamal Murray, PG, Denver Nuggets: 21 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds 

Jokic's MVP Case Gathers Steam

Few players have been as exceptional and reliable as Denver's franchise big man to begin the season. Thursday only added to that notion.

Every time the Nuggets needed an easy bucket, the ball found its way into Jokic's hands. Whenever the Mavericks made a run, it was Jokic who quieted them down. And when the Nuggets found themselves down by two with 2.4 seconds left in regulation, it was Jokic who buried a step-back 19-footer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. 

Of the center's 38 points, 17 came in the fourth quarter as a 12-point Denver lead turned into a back-and-forth affair that required the extra frame. That he remained as productive in the fourth quarter despite having already been called for four fouls showed just how much composure he has when the game is on the line. 

That became even more evident as Jokic began relying on his outside game late in regulation. After the Mavs took a four-point lead with three minutes, 56 seconds left, Jokic scored the next five points on a step-back and three-pointer. If he didn't have to risk picking up a foul on offense, there was no point in forcing himself into the paint—not when he could just as easily draw the defense out to him on the perimeter. 

The 25-year-old came into Thursday's game averaging 24.1 points, 11.9 assists and 11.7 rebounds, yet his scoring average ticked up after this one. Against the Mavericks, he recorded his second consecutive game of 35-plus points. He's scored fewer than 24 points just three times in eight contests. 

By comparison, Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists over the last two years as he won back-to-back MVP awards. Jokic has established himself as a contender to take that crown away from the Milwaukee Bucks star this year. 

He'll just need to start delivering more wins in Denver first. 

Luka Doncic Returns to Form

So much for Luka Doncic struggling to find his rhythm this season. 

The Mavericks star sure played up to his billing Thursday in what's now three consecutive stellar performances. 

After beginning the year averaging 23.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds through his first four games, Doncic has scored at least 27 points in each of his last three outings, recording a triple-double against the Houston Rockets on Monday before barely missing the mark by one rebound Thursday. 

Against the Nuggets, Dallas saw the version of Doncic who makes his teammates better without sacrificing his ability to take over games. That was crucial late in the action as Doncic passed up an opportunity for a go-ahead bucket with 3.3 seconds left to feed Maxi Kleber for a wide-open three. 

The play was perfect misdirection and kept the Mavs on a run that allowed them to take control in overtime. 

With the ball at mid-court, Kleber fed an inbounds pass to Doncic, who drew a double-team that allowed Kleber to slip out to the top of the key unguarded. As soon as the power forward made his way to the weak side of the floor, Doncic floated a pass his way for an easy catch-and-shoot that Kleber sank without hesitation. 

It was Doncic's passing as much as his scoring that kept Dallas from getting run out of the building. The combination of the two handed the Mavericks a much-needed road victory against a Denver team coming off a run to the Western Conference Finals. 

What's Next

The Nuggets begin a three-game, East Coast road trip Saturday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers (7-2) before facing the New York Knicks on Sunday. The Mavericks, meanwhile, return home to face the Orlando Magic (6-2) on Saturday followed by the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. 

The Sacramento Kings have had some family drama through social media in recent days, but point guard De'Aaron Fox said it isn't affecting anyone on the court.

"I don't think anybody's out there playing basketball worried about two tweets," Fox said, per Jason Jones of The Athletic. "And if you are, this ain't what you should be doing because muthaf---as gonna tweet you every day of your life while you're playing in this league. If that's what you're worried about, then I don't know what to tell you."

The problems arose when Marvin Bagley III's father tweeted at the team's account asking to trade his son:

Aaron Fox, De'Aaron's father, responded that Bagley should be traded:

While this could be a distraction, De'Aaron Fox said he had a quick meeting with Bagley and head coach Luke Walton to clear the air:

"One, it hasn't been brought up. Me, Marvin, Luke talked for five seconds because it wasn't a big deal. But like I said, when you're playing basketball if you're thinking about what somebody said on Twitter, then this ain't for you. I'm 100 percent completely honest with you when I tell you nobody's thinking about that while we're on the court."

The issue could be of some concern after the Kings suffered a 137-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, the team's third straight loss to fall to 3-4.

Bagley is getting more chances in his third season and has already set a new career high with seven starts, but he is averaging just 10.9 points with 8.1 rebounds per game and shooting only 35.8 percent from the field.

While the 2018 No. 2 overall pick has flashed potential when healthy, he will always be linked with No. 3 pick Luka Doncic.

The off-court discussions don't help, although Bagley has refused to talk about any trade requests, and Fox believes it is not an issue for the team going forward.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will not play in Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls because of a quad contusion.

Marc Stein of the New York Times shared the news, while Tim MacMahon of ESPN provided an update from head coach Rick Carlisle:

Dallas can ill-afford to be without him for an extended period of time if it hopes to challenge the best teams in the Western Conference.

The 2018-19 Rookie of the Year took another step in his second season and averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.0 steals as one of the elite overall playmakers in the league.

He has followed with 24.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per night in 2020-21.

Doncic can impact the game in a number of ways with his ability to read defenses and exploit angles with his drive, facilitate for teammates when defenders collapse on his penetration and even hit from the outside when given too much space.

The Mavericks do not have anyone else on the roster who can do what Doncic does on a consistent basis, but they do have some pieces in the backcourt who can help them remain afloat until he is ready to return.

Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke will likely play point guard, while Tim Hardaway Jr., Tyrell Terry and Josh Richardson can provide additional ball-handling on the wing.