NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, Mavs overwhelm Clippers

Luka Doncic scored 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting and the Dallas Mavericks blasted the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 144-126 on Friday night as part of the NBA in-season tournament.

Kyrie Irving added 27 points for Dallas, which used a 32-2 burst to overcome an 11-point deficit and turn the game into a laugher. The Mavericks outscored the Clippers 47-18 in the second quarter.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals for Dallas, which is off to a 7-2 start.

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points for the Clippers, who finished an 0-4 road trip and fell to 0-5 on the road this season. This was the Clippers' first in-season tournament game, while the Mavericks improved to 1-1. Both teams play in West Group B.

76ers 114, Pistons 106

Joel Embiid had 33 points and 16 rebounds and streaking Philadelphia won its opener in the NBA's in-season tournament by powering past host Detroit.

Embiid shot 8-for-21 from the field and 16-for-19 from the foul line. Tyrese Maxey racked up 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and four steals for Philadelphia, which has won seven straight games.

Killian Hayes led Detroit, which has lost seven straight, with 23 points, five rebounds and six assists. Pistons center Jalen Duren departed in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

Rockets 104, Pelicans 101

Fred VanVleet drilled two late 3-pointers as Houston rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat visiting New Orleans in an NBA in-season tournament game.

VanVleet followed a corner 3-pointer with another above the break with 47.1 seconds left that gave the Rockets a 101-100 lead. After the Pelicans' Brandon Ingram missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, VanVleet added a pair