Mavericks’ Luka Doncic returns after missing game with sore knee

DALLAS – Mavericks guard Luka Doncic returned to the lineup for Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game against the New Orleans Pelicans after missing the previous game with a right knee contusion.

After four games, the Mavericks have won two straight after Sunday’s win against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder – the first game Doncic missed this season.

In his previous outing last Saturday, Doncic played a season-low 28 minutes and scored 16 points — one more than his season low — in a home win over San Antonio. He sat out the final eight minutes with the Mavericks comfortably ahead.

Doncic won last season’s NBA scoring title, averaging 33.9 points per game. game, and thus 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists. He is averaging 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season.

“He’s shown he’s human,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic’s lower average. “(Average of) 28, eight and eight — you sign up for it all day long.”