Luka Doncic had plenty of gifts for the Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NBA's Christmas five-header ended with the Dallas Mavericks beating the Phoenix Suns, taking a short break, and then beating them again.
The Mavericks won 128-114, with Luka Doncic scoring 50 points and 15 assists, ending a five-game Christmas series that also included the New York Knicks defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, the Denver Nuggets defeating the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics rolled over the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat held off the Philadelphia 76ers.
There was no classic game like some previous Christmases, but the Celtics still managed to make a statement as the NBA's top team. And it's always fun to watch Doncic on one of those plays where he drops haymaker after haymaker.
Here's all the action as it happened:
Live166 updates
- Monday, December 25, 2023 at 8:08 p.m. GMT
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:09 a.m. GMT
For about five minutes it looked like it could be a big win for the Suns. Instead, the Mavericks find their footing and win 128-114. The Suns fall to 14-15, 11th in the Western Conference and out of the play-in picture.
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:07 a.m. GMT
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:06 a.m. GMT
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:05 a.m. GMT
Durant with 6 of Phoenix's 15 turnovers
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:02 a.m. GMT
This is Dallas' 7th Christmas game. Doncic's 48 points break his own Mavs Christmas scoring record of 32, which he set against the Lakers in 2022.
Doncic's 13 assists break the Mavs Christmas record of 11 set by Steve Nash in 2003.
– Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 6:01 a.m. GMT
As expected, Luka reached 10,000 career points tonight. According to my research confirmed by @MavsPR/@EliasSportsHe is the fastest among active players and has the seventh fewest games played in NBA history
Wilt 236
MY 303
Baylor 315
Kareem 319
Oscar 334
Gervin 355
McAdoo 358
Luke 358
Barry 360
LeBron 368— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:55 a.m. GMT
The Suns have continued to often force the Mavs to operate from 4-on-3 games, but Dallas has been using Derrick Jones Jr. more often as a screener lately. Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 113-106 with 5:16 to play.
– Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:55 a.m. GMT
The Mavs limited Durant to 16 and Booker to 14, which is great until you realize Grayson Allen has 30 and Metu has 21.
– Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 26, 2023
- Tue, Dec 26, 2023 at 5:48am GMT
Luka Doncic now has 17 regular-season games with 40-plus points and 10-plus assists, tying Russell Westbrook for the fourth-most in NBA history. Only Oscar Robertson (46), James Hardne (31) and Tiny Archibald (23) have more.
– Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 26, 2023
- Tue, Dec 26, 2023 at 5:48am GMT
- Tue, Dec 26, 2023 at 5:48am GMT
Luka Doncic and Grayson Allen both have eight 3-pointers. Luka with 14 tries, Allen with 15. There is no shortage of entertainment in this Christmas Day final. Mavs trail 102-101 with nine minutes left.
– Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:41 a.m. GMT
Suns played the entire 3rd quarter against Book and KD, while Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon scored as many points (27) as the entire Mavericks team
Let's take a look at the 4th quarter – where Phoenix is in last place with a 3% point deficit and net rating tonight. There will be some tired legs out there
– Law Murray ✂️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:36 a.m. GMT
There was also action in the audience.
A bit of dust. Surely it will be on Twitter soon. I saw a few cameras filming. #To sunbathe two ahead of Luka 3.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:36 a.m. GMT
The sun rises at 1 o'clock and enters the 4th Doncic is 38-4-10 on 19 shots. Everyone until 27.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:31 a.m. GMT
This game is starting to get edgy.
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:29 a.m. GMT
Booker had the foul on Williams that kept Williams on the ground for a while.
Next time, Williams tries to get through Booker on a screen. Booker protests to his face. Kerfuffle ensues.
It is a double technical foul + the first foul on Williams.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:29 a.m. GMT
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:27 a.m. GMT
The Mavericks were outscored 35-20 in the third quarter with Grant Williams going to the finish line. The Suns lead 89-84.
– Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:26 a.m. GMT
Josh Okogie went back to the locker room after checking out. He seemed to stumble a bit on the way to the bank
– Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 26, 2023
- Tue, December 26, 2023 at 5:24 a.m. GMT
When Booker does everything right, his impact is evident in the final two quarters, and any game that ends in a misplay drives him crazy. He's not one to show his frustration on the floor in these cases, but he did it a few times tonight.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 26, 2023