Luka Doncic goes off for 37 but Dallas Mavericks fall to Hornets in Charlotte

The Dallas Mavericks lost their second straight game as the Charlotte Hornets picked up the 129-108 win on their home floor on Saturday night. It was the first time since February 2 and just the ninth time this season that the Mavs have dropped consecutive games. Dallas was shorthanded and could not survive the Hornets shooting 50.0 percent from the field, but it did not stop Luka Doncic from going off.

The 23-year-old superstar couldn’t find his shot against the Sixers on Friday night, but he always bounces back strong. Doncic did not disappoint in Charlotte as he went for 37 points on 13 of 20 shooting from the field, including hitting eight 3-pointers.

Luka was phenomenal, but it was a game of wild runs and the shorthanded Mavs just did not get enough production from his supporting cast. Here is a closer look at Doncic’s performance and what is next for the Mavericks.

Luka Doncic goes off but Dallas Mavericks fall to Charlotte Hornets

The Mavs got off to a slow start on Saturday night, and Luka decided he had to take over to keep Dallas in the contest. He had 14 in the first quarter and 21 in the third, but Charlotte scored 35 and 41 as a team in those periods to sink Dallas. Doncic did not disappoint, though.

The Mavericks other four starters scored just 29 points combined on nine of 26 shooting from the field in what turned out to be a night to forget for Dallas. Spencer Dinwiddie sat out to rest on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Mavs missed his scoring and playmaking punch as the offense struggled for long stretches in Charlotte.

The Dallas Mavericks ended their five-game road trip with three wins and two losses to put them just 1.5 games ahead of the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves. Luka Doncic and company host the Wolves on Monday before traveling to Minnesota on Friday for two of the Mavericks' next three games. They will be massive contests as Dallas looks to avoid the play-in tournament.

Expect Luka to stay hot on Monday night as the Dallas Mavericks look to snap their two-game losing streak. They have lost three straight just twice this season and not since December 7. Be sure to tune in or head to the American Airlines Center on March 21 for what promises to be one of the best games of the season.