The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 148-143 on Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, to snap a three-game losing run.
This game was a career highlight for Luka Doncic, who shot 25-for-33 from the floor and led the Mavericks with 73 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. It was not only the most points scored by any active player in a single game, but it also tied Wilt Chamberlain’s fourth-highest scoring effort in NBA history, after only Chamberlain’s 100 and 78 points and Kobe Bryant’s 81.
The Mavericks were without their second-in-command, Kyrie Irving, in Friday’s game, so they depended even more on Doncic to handle more offensive responsibilities. He made eight of his 11 field goals (FGs) in the first quarter, totaling 18 points. At 1:57, he went to the bench for a break, and his team led 27-24. However, when he returned in the second period, the Mavericks were already down four points (31-27).
That’s why Doncic returned with even more potent weapons. He made eight of ten shots in the second quarter, scoring 23 points, and then added 16 more in the third quarter to help his team take a six-point lead into the fourth quarter (108-102).
When a guy went 20-for-26 in free throws and scored 57 points in the first three quarters, the opponents’ defenders must have realized something major was about to happen. The Hawks were aware of this as well, and had no desire to serve as the backdrop for a new “Luka Magic” poster. Since none of their defenders could slow Doncic down on his own and double-teaming didn’t force him to transfer the ball to a teammate, the Hawks had Dejounte Murray stay adjacent to Doncic to deny him the ball nearly every possession. Even if Doncic got to the baseline to receive the ball, he would be soon double-teamed before moving to the front court.
As a result, Doncic only attempted seven shots in the fourth quarter, but he made five of them and scored 16 points. Meanwhile, the rest of the Mavericks made five triples out of seven attempts and went to the line ten times. Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 10 points for the squad during this span.
Despite the loss, the Hawks did everything they could, primarily on the offensive end, to have Doncic dominate the game in order to win. Six of their players scored in double figures, with Trae Young leading the way with 30 points and 11 assists. He had 20 of those points in the second half. Murray scored 11 points in the fourth quarter while glued to Doncic.
Other games on Friday (away teams start first):
Phoenix Suns: 131-133 The Indiana Pacers
Devin Booker’s incredible performance, which included 62 points at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, did not result in a victory for the Suns over the Pacers. He scored 29 points in the first quarter alone, but missed all three shots from downtown in the final period. His team trailed by two points with 3.4 seconds remaining in the game. Booker stumbled after receiving the throw-in near the left wing. He stood up, but Aaron Nesmith blocked his shot.
The Pacers were behind by as much as 17 points (54-37) in the game. They shot as low as 8-for-26 behind the arc but eventually won owing to their persistent charge to the paint. The club had as many as 21 offensive rebounds, 14 of which came off the bench, and scored 84 points in the paint.
Cleveland Cavaliers 112-100 The Milwaukee Bucks
On Friday, the Cavaliers avenged their Monday loss to the Bucks at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved into the top four of the Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 32 points, including six triples. Jarret Allen had a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each had 22 points for the Bucks in Friday’s contest. Antetokounmpo missed only four of his 13 shots. He had 11 rebounds and nine assists, but six turnovers. Lillard finished with 22 points on 24 field goal attempts. He missed 17 of his attempts, including eight from beyond the 3-point line.
Houston Rockets: 138-104 The Charlotte Hornets
Los Angeles Clippers, 127–107 The Toronto Raptors
The Orlando Magic 106-107 The Memphis Grizzlies
Oklahoma City Thunder: 107-83 The New Orleans Pelicans
Portland Trailblazers 100-116 The San Antonio Spurs
