Mavericks star Luka Doncic had a frustrating night on Wednesday against Phoenix, earning a technical foul for repeatedly complaining to the referees and then requesting that a heckling fan be ejected, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Both incidents came in the third quarter, with the Suns fan leaving voluntarily.
Wednesday marked Dallas’ third straight loss and fifth in its past seven games. Doncic’s frustration boiling over was noteworthy, according to Tim Cato of The Athletic, who says the front office is well aware that it needs to continue to surround its best player with more talent after adding multiple young role players over the summer.
Friday’s matchup with Atlanta went much differently for Doncic and the Mavs, however. The Slovenian scored a franchise-record 73 points, tied for the fourth-highest mark in NBA history, and became the first player to score 70-plus while shooting at least 75% from the field (he was 25-of-33 overall, including 8-of-13 from three and 15-of-16 from the line). He also contributed 10 rebounds and seven assists in 45 minutes during the five-point win (Twitter links via the Mavs and the NBA).
Guard Trae Young said Atlanta tried everything it could to stop Doncic, tweets Kevin Chouinard of Hawks.com.
“He was hot. He was going. S–t, we were trying everything,” Young said. “We were trying to trap him. We started off with Jalen (Johnson) on him … Sometimes you just have to pick your poison.”
While Doncic said the performance was probably the best of his career, he was more focused on getting a win, per ESPN.com.
“We’ve been struggling lately,” he said. “Mindset was [to] get a win. We played great.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Kyrie Irving missed his second straight game on Friday with a right thumb sprain. That marked his 18th missed game of 2023/24, which means he’ll miss out on a $1MM bonus for appearing in 65-plus games, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The bonus had been considered unlikely after Irving appeared in 60 games last year, Marks adds. The three-time All-NBA guard will also be ineligible for end-of-season awards.
- Big man Maxi Kleber‘s toe is still bothering him, which is why he sat out Friday’s game after missing 35 games with a right small toe dislocation. As Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News observes (via Twitter), Kleber’s ongoing toe problem is a “significant consideration” for the front office with the trade deadline set for February 8. The Mavericks have reportedly been looking for frontcourt help.
- Forward Grant Williams had nothing but good things to say about the Mavs in a conversation with Souichi Terada of MassLive.com. Williams was acquired from Boston in a sign-and-trade last offseason. “I’m enjoying it,” Williams said of Dallas. “It’s a great organization, great team, bunch of guys that really want to win. It’s an opportunity to compete and step into a role that I didn’t have before. And performance-wise, I definitely want to be better, definitely want to get healthier, want to get in a good frame. But outside of that, I’m just focused on the day-to-day. We have a long season.”
they are one or two defensive wings and a backup center away from a championship idc
They have good defensive wings, they need a two way power forward and a backup center.
Honestly, as good as lively has been if they can get a starting center with lively coming off the bench that would be even better. He struggles defensively against good centers at this point.
Luka, good lord. Phoenix, Sacramento, Atlanta? Life choices. Why didn’t that particular draft just have the scouting report as white and European, bust. Oh wait.
Who would of thought the MVP of the Spanish league. MVP of Eoroleague. MVP of the euroleague final four at the age of 19 could play? Only the youngest ever to accomplish such, yeah we’ll pass on that guy.
Seems a bit slow and not athletic. Those life choices are getting worse.
For most of that year in Europe he was 18. They didn’t call him Wonder Boy for nothing.
Luka is liked less by the day.
Da fu.. You smoking?
Probably that Florida stuff. It’s all garbage
this guy has a Trae young jersey
Luka shot 25/33 en route to a 73 point game.
That’s incredible
Since he’s lost weight and refocused he’s been phenomenal. he has really improved his 3 pt shooting.
Would mavs pursue Miles Bridges?
How about Miles Bridges and Thor to Memphis for Zhaire Williams, Jake L and GG Jackson.
GG Jackson belongs on raps. Hornets won’t appreciate him just as the grizz don’t and didn’t appreciate Lofton.
He would be good on the Raptors. Grizzlies are a horrible managed franchise right now
If only defense was played in todays NBA. Silver wants everything changed, the history erased and Wilts scoring title gone so Silver can get his picture taken with someone forever. Moses Malone who is that some scrub is what the new generation will say.
Hey you got your money right… Okay let me shoot then I’ll let you shoot.
Bring the hand check rule, defense, less techs and dribbling violations back
Wilt wouldn’t have achieved that record if he wasn’t playing when he did. Okay…layup. Dunk. Layup. Stop knocking achievements based on era. It goes both ways.
I agree, the officiating has resulted in all these high scoring individual performances. For those of us over 40 it’s been a sad change.
Wilt was amazing, however, the players back then are not what they are today. A lot of those players were smoking at halftime and they didn’t have the conditioning they do today.
Kobe scored 81 against a team that has never heard you should guard someone. Yes, the game has changed, but these high scores will always happen against weak defensive teams.
Jalen Rose is still upset
Again with the same tird “no defense” nonsense. Every sport evolves with time. Todays athletes are bigger, stronger and more skilled than any era. The so-called “tough defense” of the 80s and 90s is overrated and over-hyped.
No defense can could stop todays players. Athletes from this era would run circles around 80s and 90s NBA.
The players are just better in this era. Simple as that.
*yawn* Doncic is a stat padder. We all know Mavericks stink in the playoffs. This Mavericks team isn’t winning a championship anytime soon.
Thunder, Clippers, Timberwolves and Nuggets are all better than Mavericks.
Luka didn’t pad the stats in this one… Didn’t take enough shots to…
But this Mavs teams is a cold night away from an early playoff exit… Because even on hot nights it’s a close game…
If only Luka didn’t need to do that… If only he had some proper help…
Mark from Cuba will continue to hold back Luka… But at least he drafted him I guess…