By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic headlined the NBA Thursday night with his amazing performance against the Brooklyn Nets, recording a triple-double of 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists and sealing the 129-125 victory in overtime for the Dallas Mavericks. The former Real Madrid player added 3 steals as well.
Getting all the attention of every defensive possession by the Brooklyn Nets, he made the right plays by trusting his teammates both in the final minutes of regulation, when Reggie Bullock couldn’t deliver from downtown, and in overtime, when his passes were converted in three consecutive daggers by Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, and Reggie Bullock.
“Obviously, Luka is probably the best guy to make tough shots and make shots when they count, but he also knows when to make the right basketball plays. He just has a good feel for when he should shoot himself and when he has to get other people’s shots. He just makes the right basketball plays all the time”, Maxi Kleber said of his teammate.
Kyrie Irving, who had 39 points in the Brooklyn Nets’ loss, had great words for Doncic in the post-game press conference. “He’s a great player, it’s a pleasure always to go against him. The first thing we need to discuss is how long he’s been playing professional basketball. I think it’s been since he was 14 or 15 years old. He’s used to seeing so many defenses, so many different roles he has played, and now that he’s in the NBA you just see how he plays at an incredible pace”, he said.
Luka Doncic became only the 10th player in NBA history to record at least three 40-point triple-doubles. Here’s the full list:
- 22, Oscar Robertson
- 15, James Harden
- 12, Russell Westbrook
- 7, Wilt Chamberlain
- 6, LeBron James
- 3, Luka Doncic
- 3, Larry Bird
- 3, Michael Jordan
- 3, Pete Maravich
Luka Doncic is now averaging 34.7 points (3rd in the NBA), 9 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 36.53 PER per game (2nd in the NBA). He’s struggling to shoot from three (25%), but he has great shooting percentages from two points (50%) and from the free-throw line (87%). He has 60.5% of true shooting this year.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images