Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka
Doncic just entered the NBA record book, accomplishing something
that has only been done by three other players in league
history.
On Friday night, on the fourth
anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s passing, Doncic channeled his inner
‘Mamba Mentality’ to score 73 points, leading the Mavericks to a
148-143 road win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Doncic joins Wilt Chamberlain,
Bryant and David Thompson as the only players in NBA history to
score at least 73 points in a single game. Chamberlain owns the NBA record with 100
points, and Doncic’s 73-point performance was the most points
scored since Bryant’s 81-point outing in 2006.
“I was just going, taking
whatever the defense gave me. In the second half, they doubled me
all the time, so I tried to make some plays,” Doncic said postgame.
“Sometimes I (attacked) and I would break the double, so just
seeing the game.”
Dallas came into the game having
lost three straight, including a 23-point drubbing against rival
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
“We played great, we played
great offense,” Doncic said. “I just wanted to get the win, as we
have been struggling lately.”
The 2024 All-Star starter shot
an absurd 75.8% from the floor (25-of-33), made 8 triples and sank
15-of-16 free throws. He becomes the first player in NBA history to
score 70+ points while shooting 75% or higher from the
field.
Doncic was brilliant all game
long, scoring 18, 23, 16 and
16 across the four quarters. When the Hawks tried to be physical
with him, he credited his teammates, Dante Exum and Josh Green, for
coming up big as well.
“It was great, just trust, I always trust my
teammates. Making the right play, they’re (Exum and Green) always
big time for us. Just the next man up mentality. Both were great
today,” Doncic said.
Trae Young, who was traded for
Doncic in 2018, had 30 points and 11 assists for the Hawks, while
Jalen Johnson added 25 points in the losing effort.
