By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The little boy from Ljubljana made it: Luka Doncic has entered the history books with an extraordinary night, scoring a career-high 73 points in the win over the Atlanta Hawks.
He’s now the only European in NBA history to have scored at least 70 points and tied Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson for the third-best ever scoring performance since the league was created, behind the 100 points by Wilt Chamberlain and the 81 points by Kobe Bryant.
“You’ve got to continue to play and have trust in your teammates”, he commented after the historic performance. “Those names are special. It’s unbelievable”, he said looking at the players he reached in the NBA scoring list.
Shooting 25/33 from the field (8/13 from three) and 15/16 at the free throw line, and while also grabbing 10 rebounds with 7 assists, he ended up with the best scoring night in Dallas Mavericks’ history, against the team that drafted him.
The former Real Madrid player was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, before eventually his draft rights were moved to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young with the No. 5 overall pick, and a 2019 first-round pick used to select Cam Reddish.
NBA Results of the Night
Atlanta Hawks – Dallas Mavericks 143-148
Charlotte Hornets – Houston Rockets 138-104
Indiana Pacers – Phoenix Suns 133-131
Toronto Raptors – Los Angeles Clippers 107-127
Memphis Grizzlies – Orlando Magic 107-106
Milwaukee Bucks – Cleveland Cavaliers 100-112
New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder 83-107
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 116-100
Standings (via NBA.com)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
35 | 10 | .778 | — | 24-6 | 11-1 | 20-1 | 15-9 | 2-3 | 7-3 | W 3 |
| 2
|
31 | 14 | .689 | 4 | 24-12 | 9-7 | 20-5 | 11-9 | 2-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 3
|
29 | 14 | .674 | 5 | 19-11 | 5-3 | 17-6 | 12-8 | 0-2 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 4
|
27 | 16 | .628 | 7 | 19-10 | 6-4 | 15-8 | 12-8 | 2-0 | 9-1 | W 1 |
| 5
|
28 | 17 | .622 | 7 | 19-10 | 6-3 | 15-5 | 13-12 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 5 |
| 6
|
26 | 20 | .565 | 9.5 | 21-11 | 9-2 | 15-9 | 11-11 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 7
|
24 | 21 | .533 | 11 | 18-14 | 9-2 | 12-10 | 12-11 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 5 |
| 8
|
23 | 22 | .511 | 12 | 17-13 | 6-4 | 14-7 | 9-15 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| 9
|
21 | 25 | .457 | 14.5 | 13-16 | 3-6 | 14-10 | 7-15 | 4-2 | 6-4 | L 2 |
| 10
|
18 | 27 | .400 | 17 | 12-20 | 6-5 | 8-13 | 10-14 | 2-1 | 4-6 | L 4 |
| 11
|
17 | 27 | .386 | 17.5 | 13-14 | 1-5 | 10-12 | 7-15 | 0-3 | 2-8 | L 3 |
| 12
|
16 | 29 | .356 | 19 | 10-20 | 0-11 | 10-13 | 6-16 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 4 |
| 13
|
10 | 33 | .233 | 24 | 7-20 | 3-6 | 5-15 | 5-18 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 14
|
7 | 37 | .159 | 27.5 | 5-27 | 2-9 | 3-18 | 4-19 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 6 |
| 15
|
5 | 39 | .114 | 29.5 | 5-22 | 1-9 | 3-20 | 2-19 | 0-2 | 2-8 | W 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
32 | 13 | .711 | — | 20-10 | 9-2 | 17-5 | 15-8 | 2-0 | 8-2 | W 5 |
| 2
|
32 | 13 | .711 | — | 21-7 | 5-2 | 17-4 | 15-9 | 1-1 | 7-3 | W 2 |
| 3
|
29 | 14 | .674 | 2 | 21-11 | 7-3 | 19-4 | 10-10 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 4 |
| 4
|
31 | 15 | .674 | 1.5 | 17-10 | 2-4 | 17-4 | 14-11 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 5
|
25 | 18 | .581 | 6 | 16-13 | 6-5 | 14-8 | 11-10 | 3-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 6
|
26 | 19 | .578 | 6 | 17-14 | 5-7 | 14-11 | 12-8 | 2-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 7
|
26 | 19 | .578 | 6 | 18-17 | 5-6 | 14-10 | 12-9 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 8
|
25 | 20 | .556 | 7 | 18-16 | 7-5 | 13-11 | 12-9 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| 9
|
23 | 23 | .500 | 9.5 | 17-15 | 5-4 | 17-8 | 6-15 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 10
|
23 | 23 | .500 | 9.5 | 12-18 | 4-6 | 15-6 | 8-17 | 2-2 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 11
|
21 | 23 | .477 | 10.5 | 15-11 | 7-2 | 16-8 | 5-15 | 1-4 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 12
|
19 | 23 | .452 | 11.5 | 11-18 | 3-7 | 12-12 | 7-11 | 1-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 13
|
18 | 27 | .400 | 14 | 12-21 | 6-6 | 5-15 | 13-12 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 14
|
13 | 32 | .289 | 19 | 6-26 | 1-7 | 7-12 | 6-20 | 3-2 | 3-7 | L 1 |
| 15
|
9 | 36 | .200 | 23 | 6-20 | 1-7 | 4-17 | 5-19 | 1-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images