Luka Doncic matched the fourth-highest scoring efficiency in NBA historical past Friday, pouring in 73 factors to steer the Dallas Mavericks to a 148-143 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
A masterful particular person efficiency noticed the Slovenian star set a Mavs file with 41 first-half factors, then obliterate his personal franchise scoring file of 60 set in opposition to the New York Knicks in 2022.
Doncic added 10 rebounds and 7 assists. He related on 25 of 33 photographs from the ground — together with eight three-pointers — and made 15 of his 16 free throws.
“It was just exciting,” stated Doncic, who was cheered even by Hawks followers. “Sometimes I couldn’t believe it.”
Doncic ranked the efficiency “probably at the top” of his profession, however with the Mavs coming in on a three-game shedding streak he was simply centered on getting a victory.
“We’ve been struggling lately,” he stated. “Mindset was get a win.”
His sensational efficiency spoiled the return of Trae Young, who led the Hawks with 30 factors after lacking two video games in concussion protocol.
Doncic’s effort pushed him into rarefied NBA territory. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant have scored extra factors in a sport, Chamberlain with the league file 100 in 1962 and the late Lakers star Bryant with 81 in 2006.
Chamberlain additionally owns a 78-point efficiency and two of 73 — a quantity additionally reached by David Thompson and, now, Doncic.
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“It feels special to be in that conversation with those names,” Doncic stated, calling it “amazing” that his huge night time got here on the fourth anniversary of Bryant’s loss of life in a helicopter accident.
“We all loved Kobe,” Doncic stated.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated it was one thing “extra special” from a participant who delivers “special” frequently.
“What he does on the court is different than anybody else,” Kidd stated, including that Doncic’s means to maintain feeding his teammates amid his personal red-hot scoring made the victory attainable.
It meant he by no means feared Doncic’s scorching hand would pull the Mavs out of their sport plan.
“He is the game plan,” Kidd stated.
The Hawks had pulled inside three factors with lower than two minutes to play, however Doncic drove for a layup, drew a foul and transformed the free throw to assist push the lead again to seven with 58 seconds left.
A Young basket reduce the deficit to 3 with 10 seconds to play, however Tim Hardaway Jr. sealed it on the free throw line for Dallas, who had been with out injured Kyrie Irving.
Josh Green, who scored 21 factors for Mavs, stated he’d by no means seen something prefer it.
“It felt like I was in a (video) game of 2K,” he stated. “Whoever was controlling Luka did a good job, I’ll tell you that.”
Doncic’s effort got here lower than every week after Joel Embiid poured in 70 in a Philadelphia 76ers win over San Antonio — and it wasn’t the one eye-popping outburst of the night time.
Phoenix guard Devin Booker’s 62-point efficiency, nonetheless, got here in a shedding effort because the Indiana Pacers triumphed 133-131 to halt the Suns’ seven-game profitable streak.
Phoenix led by as many as 17 however the Pacers tied it up with lower than a minute to play.
Obi Toppin’s putback basket off a Pascal Siakam miss sealed the victory as Booker couldn’t get his three-pointer to fall as time expired.
