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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic scores 73, tied for 4th in NBA history

January 27, 2024

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA — Luka Doncic scored a franchise-record 73 points, tied for the fourth-most in NBA history and surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, to power the Mavericks to a 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Doncic blew past his personal best and team record 60 points after scoring a team-record 41 points in the first half.

His record night came only four days after Philadelphia center Joel Embiid scored a franchise-record 70 points, then the most in the NBA this season, in the 76ers’ 133-123 victory over San Antonio on Monday night. Devin Booker scored 62 for the Phoenix Suns on Friday in the second-highest scoring game of his career to add to a week of offensive explosions the likes of which the league has never seen.

Friday marked only the fifth time in NBA history – and amazingly, the second time this week – when two players scored at least 60 points on the same day, after Karl-Anthony Towns had 62 for Minnesota on Monday, the same night Embiid had 70.

A three-point play with 2:58 remaining gave Doncic 70 points. With Dallas leading 140-136, Doncic added another three-point play to cap his night.

Against the team that drafted him in 2018, Doncic joined Chamberlain and David Thompson among players who scored 73 points. Chamberlain, who owns the NBA record with 100 points, also had a 78-point game, while Bryant finished with 81 points on Jan. 22, 2006.

“Those names are special,” Doncic said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Dallas coach Jason Kidd said he had no worries about Doncic’s scoring spree disturbing the Mavericks’ game plan.

“He is the game plan,” Kidd said.

The Mavericks rode Doncic’s big game to end their three-game losing streak while handing the Hawks their fourth straight loss. Doncic made 25 of 33 shots from the field, going 8 for 13 from 3-point range and 15 for 16 from the free-throw line. The field goals made set another personal record.

Trae Young led Atlanta with 30 points, including a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining that trimmed the Dallas lead to 146-143. Jalen Johnson added 25 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 24.

Doncic scored 23 points in the second quarter after opening with 18 points in the first.

Doncic, who averages 33.6 points, nailed a 3-pointer with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter, giving him a season-high 51 points. He then took aim at his career high of 60 points, also the Dallas record, set against the New York Knicks on Dec. 27, 2022.

The Hawks had no answer for Doncic. Jalen Johnson opened as Atlanta’s primary defender on the 6-foot-7 guard. Saddiq Bey, Dejounte Murray and others tried without success to slow Doncic’s high-scoring pace.

“He was hot. He was going,” Young said. “We were trying everything. We were trying to trap him.”

Josh Green scored 21 points for Dallas, but Doncic carried the offense.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Green said.

Through it all, Doncic kept looking for his teammates and contributing more than points. He grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and led the Mavericks with seven assists.

“The three assists are what he’s probably thinking about in the locker room to have a triple-double,” Kidd said.

Doncic insisted the win was the biggest reason to celebrate after he overcame constant extra attention from Atlanta’s defense.

“You’ve got to continue to play and have trust in your teammates,” Doncic said.

Doncic’s milestone game came in his original NBA home, at least for a few minutes.

Doncic was selected by the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft before having his draft rights traded to Dallas for Young with the No. 5 pick and a 2019 first-round pick used to select Cam Reddish.

Doncic scored 41 points in the first half to set a franchise record for points in any half. He made 17 of 22 shots from the field, going 6 for 9 from 3-point range, in the half.

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The Mavericks’ previous high mark for points in a half was 34 by Dirk Nowitzki in the second half against Utah on Nov. 3, 2009.

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving missed his second consecutive game with a sprained right thumb. He suffered the injury against Boston on Monday.

Dallas forward Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a sprained left wrist with 30 seconds remaining in the first half and did not return.

Young cleared the concussion protocol after missing two games.

The rematch between the teams, originally scheduled for April 5 in Dallas, has been moved to April 4, the league announced Friday.

HISTORIC 73-POINT NIGHT FROM LUKA DONCIC

73 PTS
25/33 FGM (75.8%)
15/16 FTM
8 3PM

He becomes the 4th player in NBA history to score 73+ points and the first ever to score 70+ on 75% or higher from the field. pic.twitter.com/Afm9cyJung

— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2024

Orange County Register

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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic scores 73, tied for 4th in NBA history

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