Luka Doncic put on a performance for the ages, erupting for a career-high 73 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 148-143 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Doncic’s scoring spree shattered the Mavericks’ franchise record and propelled him into elite company, tying Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson for the fourth-highest single-game score in NBA history.
Only Wilt’s legendary 100-point game and Kobe Bryant’s 81-point masterpiece stand above him.
The Slovenian maestro started hot, firing off 12 of the Mavericks’ first 16 points and igniting a 27-20 lead. However, the Hawks refused to back down, battling back and even taking the lead after Doncic took a breather.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows and the lead changing hands multiple times. Doncic remained a scoring machine, but the rest of the Mavericks struggled to keep pace.
Despite the scoring disparity, the Mavericks finally found their footing in the final quarter, building a 114-105 lead.
The Hawks, led by Trae Young’s 30 points, refused to surrender, repeatedly cutting the deficit but never quite managing to take control.
In the final nail-biting minutes, clutch free throws from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Green secured the win for the Mavericks, snapping their three-game losing streak and proving that even without Kyrie Irving, they could still compete at the highest level.
For the Hawks, this was a tough loss, their fourth in a row, but they remain in the play-in zone. However, they must find a way to slow down offensive juggernauts like Doncic if they want to climb the ranks and make a serious playoff push.
This game was more than just a basketball game; it was a testament to Luka Doncic’s brilliance and a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the Mavericks can still rise to the occasion.
