Mavs won in overtime thanks to a 60-21-10 triple-double from Luka Doncic

By Justin Jones On Dec 28, 2022

Mavs won in overtime thanks to a 60-21-10 triple-double from Luka Doncic; with a single second left in regulation, Luka Doncic purposefully missed a free shot, recovered the ball, and sank a backhand floater lying on the ground. Following a short roll, he immediately got to his feet and began dancing wildly, raising and lowering his hands in triumph.

The sellout crowd at American Airlines Center was worked up to a frenzy by the superstar’s historically sensational triple-double on Tuesday night. Doncic continued his celebration by putting his fists in the air and bouncing up and down while prancing up the sideline when the buzzer sounded a second later.

Doncic claimed, “I thought we won the game.” “As I look closer, I realize the score is knotted. As in, “Oof.” I was at a loss for words.”

The Mavericks beat the New York Knicks 126-121 thanks mainly to Doncic’s 60-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist performance, a record for the NBA.

“Two interceptions and a block were recorded. In addition to playing basketball, “When asked about his 60-21-10 line, which included a career-high ten rebounds, Doncic joked that he had surpassed Dirk Nowitzki’s franchise record.

Doncic’s 60 points were equaled the most ever scored in an NBA triple-double, set by James Harden of the Houston Rockets on January 30, 2018, in a win over the Orlando Magic. Only Wilt Chamberlain (twice!) and Elgin Baylor, both in the Hall of Fame, have scored 50 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in a triple-double.

As he entered the locker room to celebrate the win, his teammates pelted Doncic with water bottles.

“To do something that has never been done before, that’s hard to do,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s true that there have been other great players before him. He started with Elgin Baylor and Wilt but eventually branched off on his own.”

While Doncic’s numbers stand out in the box score, they are hardly unexpected. Just 23 years old, he has already tied LeBron James for fifth place in NBA history with six 40-point triple-doubles. In the Rockets’ road win on Friday, Doncic scored 50 points for the second time in his last three games.

Dwight Powell, center for the Mavericks, remarked, “Guys say all the time that we see it, and we know his talent, but he’s showing up on a different level in many different ways.” “Tonight, there are no words to convey what has happened adequately. A number like 77 seems impossible to believe.”

What is the most surprising fact about the Mavericks’ win over the Knicks? Dallas won the game in the final 35 seconds despite trailing by nine points or more for the first time in at least 20 years. According to ESPN Stats & Information, over the past 20 years, teams in that position had a record of 0-13,884.

Doncic remarked, “That was pretty impressive,” and he gave credit to JaVale McGee and Christian Wood, two big men, for their hard work in creating the loose ball that led to his game-winning putback in the final seconds. “Everybody on the team keeps going and going. Everyone just kept their cool. We had faith.”

Doncic scored or assisted on 85 of the Mavericks’ 126 points, making him the seventh player in NBA history to score at least 50 in a triple-double. As far as the Elias Sports Bureau is concerned, that is his career high in points scored in a single game.

“I guarantee I was trying for sure,” said Knicks guard Quentin Grimes, tasked with primarily guarding Doncic. “I’m trying to get beyond every pick-and-roll if you know what I mean. The man seems to be everywhere at once. The pressure to succeed in every pick-and-roll against him was overwhelming. Even when he doesn’t have the ball, he still finds creative ways to score. You must always be aware of his whereabouts on the court. There’s a good reason he’s considered one of the league’s best three players. To that end, I must doff my cap.”

Doncic shot a remarkable 21-for-31 from the field and 16-for-22 from the charity stripe. After trailing by as many as 12 points, the Mavericks returned to upset the Knicks despite playing without point guard Jalen Brunson (hip) and losing wing RJ Barrett (right index finger laceration) within the first two minutes of the game.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau referred to Doncic as a “giant player.” “On a few occasions, I thought he was aggressive and made some terrific moves. However, you can’t keep fouling a man and letting him shoot 22 free throws.”

Doncic logged a season-high 47 minutes of action. After halftime, he sat down for a total of 12 seconds.

While smiling broadly, Doncic said, “I’m weary as hell” during the postgame on-court interview for the Mavericks’ television broadcast. After that, I will need a beer to help me relax.