Luka Doncic hits triple-double in Mavericks comeback win
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Luka Doncic: The point guard for the Dallas Mavericks topped himself on Tuesday night to lead his team to a comeback win against the New York Knicks.
The game
Luka Doncic’s performance was essential to the Mavericks’ campaign this season.
He turned around a nine-point deficit in the final 26.8 seconds of regulation time, severely cutting the New York Knicks’ lead.
Doncic stepped up toward the end of the game, tying the score before completing their win.
The Mavericks’ point guard, like any other player, upped his tempo when the side needed him the most.
The tie
Luka Doncic stood for the free throw with 4.2 seconds remaining.
The Mavericks and Knicks were separated by three points.
Doncic purposely missed his second shot in the hopes that a second Maverick would get the rebound.
The ball eventually ended up in Doncic’s hands after it bounced off the ring and slipped off the Knicks.
He quickly moved for a close-range jump shot.
When the shot went in, he didn’t realize the cheers were coming from the Mavericks fans until he stood up after falling.
While the rest of the team seemed eager to celebrate and Luka Doncic was visibly ecstatic, everyone else decided to stay on defense as the clock ran.
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Finishing the game
As the game approached overtime, the Dallas Mavericks maintained their lead.
The Knicks were only able to make two free throws in the opening four minutes as the Mavericks forced overtime.
The Mavericks held off the Knicks with a five-point victory to complete the upset.
Luka Doncic scored seven of the Mavericks’ eleven points in overtime, giving him 60 points overall.
“I’m tired as hell,” said Doncic after the win. “I need a recovery beer.”
Records broken
Luka Doncic had a tremendous game against the Knicks and put up some impressive stats.
The point guard not only scored a career-high 60 points, but added 21 rebounds and 10 assists.
Doncic’s efforts have led to him becoming the youngest player in NBA history to ever register a triple-double of 60 points.
The Mavericks player set a new benchmark and a team scoring record.
Doncic’s performance
The remarkable 21-year career of Dirk Nowitzki was previously overseen by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
He was watching the Knicks game, where the next generation carried on Nowitzki’s legacy.
“We are watching greatness @luka7doncic,” he tweeted. “I’ve never seen anything like that ever.”
Luka Doncic became the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double of 60 points.
James Harden, who achieved a comparable feat with the Houston Rockets in 2018, established the record for the first 60-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist game.
In the past, only Wilt Chamberlain (who did it twice) and Elgin Baylor with a 20-board performance, along with six other players, were able to accomplish the rare 50-point triple-double.
But the icing on the cake goes beyond Doncic’s individual achievements.
NBA teams had a record of 0-13,884 during the previous 20 seasons when behind by more than nine points with 35 seconds or less left on the clock.
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Reaction
The Mavericks’ previous record of 53 points (established by Dirk Nowitzki in 2004) was surpassed by Luka Doncic’s 60-point triple-double, which also set a new milestone for the team.
NBA players from the present and the past complimented the point guard on Twitter.
“It’ll be another statue in Dallas,” said Kevin Garnett. “Luka is like that!”
Chris Wood wrote, “@luka7doncic Im sending u a GOAT to yo farm my boy..60..great team W #MFFL.”
Theo Pinson lauded Doncic as one of the NBA’s top players this season in a tweet, writing:
“I don’t want to hear not 1 time that is AT LEAST top 3 in the MVP race all year!!!”
Paul Pierce offered his perspective by saying: “Luke is the best offensive player in the league I said offensive think about it.”
References:
Luka Doncic’s historic 60-point triple-double lifts Mavericks past Knicks in wild comeback
Mavericks star Luka Doncic posts historic triple-double in historic comeback
NBA players react to Luka Doncic’s historic 60-point triple-double