Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic lit up the Atlanta Hawks for 73 points Friday night in the Mavericks’ 148-143 victory at State Farm Arena.
His 73-point outing ties for the fourth-most points scored in an NBA game, and marks just the 15th time a player has scored 70 points in one contest. The 14th 70-point game just happened Monday, when reigning MVP Joel Embiid accomplished the feat in the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Doncic’s 73 points match him with Hall of Famers David Thompson and Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 73 twice. The only players to score more points in one game than Doncic did Friday? Chamberlain (NBA-record 100 and 78) and Kobe Bryant (81).
‘Those names are special,’ Doncic said after the game. ‘It’s unbelievable.’
The Mavericks star hit 25 of 33 shots, including eight of his 13 3-pointers in 45 minutes against the team that technically drafted him in 2018. (Doncic was traded to the Mavericks on draft night in a deal that sent draftmate Trae Young to Atlanta.) Doncic went 15-for-16 from the free throw line and pulled down 10 rebounds while dishing seven assists.
‘The three assists (he didn’t get) are what he’s probably thinking about in the locker room to have a triple-double,’ Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.
Doncic’s previous career high was 60 points, which also served as the Mavericks’ team record until Friday, and he broke Dirk Nowitzki’s team record for points in a half by scoring 41 before the break against the Hawks.