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

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

In his previous appearance 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 in front.

Doncic won the NBA scoring title last season, averaging 33.9 points per game with 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 averages. “(Averages of) 28, eight and eight – that’s what you write all day for.”