On Friday night, Luka Doncic joined future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki as the only Dallas Mavericks to record 50-point games. It was his fifth career game with at least 45 points, tying Mark Aguirre (four) for most 45-point games in franchise history.
The three-time All-Star finished with a season-high 50 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in Dallas’ 112-106 win over the Houston Rockets. Additionally, he shot 17-of-30 (56.7%) from the field and 6-of-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
At several NBA betting sites, Luca Donchi has the third-best odds to win the MVP this season. Few sportsbooks are giving Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo better odds to win the award.
At 23 years old, Luka Doncic has plenty.
Triple-double
45-point games
50 point games
30/5/5 games
40/5/5 games
30p/10a games
40p/10a gamesEver making a Maverick. pic.twitter.com/fMqPCMb6Dt
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 24, 2022
It was Doncic’s second 50-point game of his NBA career. The first occurred on February 10, 2022, when the Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112-105. The guard had 51 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block in 40 minutes.
“Sometimes you know you’re going to make more shots than you normally would,” Doncic said after beating the Rockets. “When you feel the heat, you feel everything going in.”
Luka Doncic joined Dirk Nowitzki as the only Mavericks players to record multiple 50-point games, breaking other records.
In 30 starts this season, Doncic has career averages of 32.8 points and 1.7 steals. In addition to averaging 8.3 boards and 8.7 assists per game, he shot 35.2% from 3-point range and a career-best 49.7% from the floor.
On October 29, in the Mavericks’ 117-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the guard capped his outing with 31 points and a season-high 16 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
Additionally, the fifth-year player has recorded 16 double-doubles and six triple-doubles so far this season. At 23 years old, Luka Doncic has the most triples (52), 45-point games, 30/5/5 contests, 40/5/5 games, 30 point/10 assist contests and 40 point/10 assist games. A Maverick.
Luka Doncic became the 4th player since the Thieves’ first draft (1973-74) to have at least 50 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in a single game.
* Luka Doncic
James Harden (2x)
LeBron James
Russell Westbrook https://t.co/MyfANyEIrU— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) December 24, 2022
“Luca is Luca,” Kidd said on Friday. “He is the best player in the world. He carried the load offensively tonight…I don’t know what else to say about him. Tonight was incredible. “
Luka Doncic also became the fourth player since the Pirates’ first draft (1973-74) to finish with at least 50 points, eight boards, 10 assists and three steals in a game. He joins LeBron James, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. In fact, Harden has achieved this feat twice.
