The Atlanta Hawks drafted Luka Doncic third general within the 2018 NBA Draft. In fact, the group determined to commerce him that evening for Trae Younger, which has labored out fairly effectively for everybody concerned. However on Friday evening in Atlanta, Doncic placed on a present within the constructing that he may have referred to as residence, because the Dallas Mavericks star exploded for 73 factors in a 148-143 win over the Hawks.
Doncic made it clear from the leap that he deliberate on throwing down a particular efficiency. He had 18 factors after the primary quarter, and went into the locker room at halftime with 41 factors on an ultra-efficient 16-for-21 capturing.
The dangerous information for the Mavs was that Atlanta was in a position to sustain with him, as the 2 groups went into the locker room tied up at 66. That continued to be the case by way of three, with Dallas solely holding onto a 108-102 lead. Nevertheless, Doncic simply wouldn’t cease scoring towards the group that drafted him, as he had 57 after three.
The scoring continued within the fourth, with Doncic registering the primary eight factors of the body for the Mavs in about 90 seconds of labor. After which, he stopped scoring for some time, as he hit an almost 4-minute drought as Atlanta tried their hardest to maintain him from placing up factors.
Whereas the Hawks did their greatest to maintain him from scoring — and it usually labored, as Doncic would give the ball up, get denied by Dejounte Murray, and simply have his teammates play 4-on-4 as he stood close to midcourt — Doncic was in a position to get to the free throw line a couple of instances and choose up some straightforward factors. And with slightly below three minutes left within the fourth, he was lastly in a position to eclipse 70 by getting out in transition, making a layup, getting fouled, and hitting a free throw.
As Atlanta tried to make one closing push within the waning moments of the sport, Doncic received to 73 factors by as soon as once more scoring, getting fouled, and connecting on a free throw.
Together with his efficiency, Doncic set the Mavericks franchise single-game scoring file (it was 60 factors scored by, shockingly, Luka Doncic) and eclipsed the 70 factors Joel Embiid scored earlier this week to set a brand new league-high this season. He additionally grew to become the primary European participant to hit the 70-point mark, and joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and David Thompson as the one gamers to attain no less than 73 factors in a single recreation.
Doncic’s 73 factors got here on a ridiculous 25-for-33 capturing from the sector with an 8-for-13 clip from three, and hit he 15 of his 16 makes an attempt from the free throw line. Moreover, he had 10 factors and 7 assists.