Draymond Green, NBA Fans in Awe of Luka Dončić’s 73 Points as Mavs Beat Young, Hawks
Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Dončić made NBA history during a 148-143 Friday night victory over Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
Dončić recorded 73 points, the most since 2006 and the fourth-highest total in league history, during the win.
He exploded for 41 points in the first half, then added 32 more in the second in one of the most dominant performances of his career.
Only Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and David Thompson have ever scored more in a single game.
Mark Cuban @mcuban
Bally Sports Southwest @BallySportsSW
Luka Doncic joins ELITE company.💪 #MFFL pic.twitter.com/u6Q9xOKnpM
Grant Afseth @GrantAfseth
Luka Doncic joins Joel Embiid and David Robinson as the only players in NBA history to record 70+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a regular season game.
Fans around the league were awed as Dončić shot 76 percent from the field, while going 8-for-13 from behind the arc and 15-of-16 on free throws. He is the first player in NBA history to top 70 points while shooting over 75 percent, per StatMuse.
Lesley McCaslin @LesleyMcCaslin
People are in awe here in Atlanta- even Hawks fans are cheering.
Luka has 65 and we are not close to being done.F.U.N.
Kevin Gray Jr. @KevinGraySports
I simply have no words for Luka Doncic tonight, I’ve run out of superlatives fam, I’m fresh out! #MFFL
Dončić’s record-breaking performance coincided with a similarly dominant performance from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who put up 62 points against the Indiana Pacers.
The dual 60 balls reminded NBA fans of Monday, when they watched Joel Embiid record 70 points for the Philadelphia 76ers while Karl Anthony Towns put up 62 for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Paul Pierce @paulpierce34
Can’t believe what I’m watching 2 70 point performances in one week the league is Insane right now
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
And there it is: Luka Doncic and Devin Booker have both scored 60 points tonight.
It’s the fifth time two players have scored 60 on the same day in NBA history — and the second time this week.
OptaSTATS @OptaSTATS
There have been two 70-point games within the last five days: Joel Embiid on Monday & Luka Doncic tonight.
This is the shortest time between such occurrences in NBA history. The previous shortest was a 14-day span (Nov. 3-16, 1962 – both by Wilt Chamberlain. pic.twitter.com/M0AMWj20gI
It was a record-breaking night for Dončić, who recorded the highest point total in Mavericks franchise history as well as the most points ever scored against the Hawks, per Locked on Hawks’ Brad Rowland.
Dončić doesn’t turn 25 until February 28. Only Michael Jordan (52) has recorded more 40-point outings than Dončić (37, after tonight) as a 24-year-old, according to SportsCenter.
