By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic was not enough for the win over the New York Knicks on Friday night, despite posting an NBA career high in points and adding on his triple-double tally. The Dallas Mavericks fell to 5-3 after their home defeat.
Focusing on the Slovenian star, he poured 38 points with 13/26 from the field and 3/11 from three-point range. His 38 points set his new career-best in the NBA previously at 35, marked his 11th 30-point showing with the Mavs as well.
Apart his scoring outing, he grabbed 14 rebounds and dished ten assists for his third triple-double in November, fourth of the 2019-20 season and 12th of his NBA career. His 38 points made it his third 30-point triple-double as well allowing him to surpass LeBron James’ previous record of two 30-point triple-doubles under the age of 21.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year also had eight turnovers slightly below his career-worst of nine. With 25 seconds to go, Doncic had the chance to tie the game as well, but missed his shot. “I made a bad decision” he admitted afterwards, “That was not the shot I was looking for. I let my team down again. I got to make better choices.”
Still very early in the 2019-20 regular season, but the Mavericks are currently stuck with five other teams in fifth place of the Western Conference. A battle for the playoffs is stirring and Doncic hopes to land his side on the right side of the pack.
With 26.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists per appearance so far, he is nearly averaging a triple-double. Maintaining current form can indeed return the Dallas organization to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
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