By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Missing a couple of late free throws prevented Luka Doncic from matching his career-high 51 points but he was more than enough to send the Dallas Mavericks into the NBA All-Star break with an away win opposite the New Orleans Pelicans. He had 51 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, one week ago.
Doncic, 22, recorded 49 points behind 17/35 field goals, including 7/14 three-pointers. The 8/12 free throws included a couple of misses with 13.4 seconds remaining in the 2021-22 Regular Season contest held Thursday at Smoothie King Center.
“Sometimes it’s different when you play away games,” said Doncic, “Today, I played good for three quarters, but the last quarter was just very bad. But we just got a win, so I’m happy.”
Surpassing the 40-point mark in four of his eight showings through February lifted the Mavericks a 6-2 record. He has averaged 34.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 9.6 assists in the tremendously productive stretch.
“The things that he does on the court for himself, for his teammates is incredible,” said head coach Jason Kidd, “I think we’ve used every noun, adjective to describe his game, and he just gets better when the stage is big. And he delivered again.”
The Slovenian sensation scored 45 out of his 49 points over the first three quarters. Stuffing his stat sheet with 15 rebounds and eight assists helped the Mavs improve to 35-24 before the pause to the Regular Season. They sit fifth in the Western Conference standings, 1.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies and 1.5 games in front of the Denver Nuggets.
“What he’s doing right now is unbelievable,” mentioned German teammate Maxi Kleber, who himself registered a season-high 20 points versus the Pels, “He’s such a talented scorer. Not just a scorer, an overall offensive player, he finds people. He had eight assists and we all know that could have been more, too. He’s just gifted, and as a teammate, it’s fun to watch.”
Luka Dončić records his fourth career 45-point game, tying Mark Aguirre for the most in Mavericks history ✨ pic.twitter.com/xLDhq9R1PZ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 18, 2022
Moreover, Doncic’s fourth career 45-point showing tied legend Mark Aguirre for the most in franchise history.
Photo Credit: Getty Images