DALLAS -- Mavericks guard Luka Doncic returned to the lineup and scored a game-high 26 points as Dallas beat the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 132-91 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
The Mavericks won their third straight game, finishing with their highest point total of the season and largest margin of victory.
Doncic, who sat out his first game of the season in Dallas' win at Oklahoma City on Sunday because of a right knee bruise, also contributed 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
He shot 10-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-8 on 3-pointers. He hit a pair of step-back 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter giving Dallas a 111-75 lead.
Doncic won last season's NBA scoring title, averaging 33.9 points, to go with 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists. He's averaging 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season.
"He has shown that he's human," Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic's lower averages. "[Averages of] 28, eight and eight -- you sign up for that all day long."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.