NBA: Dallas Mavericks defeat Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns fall to Indiana Pacers, and Luka Doncic scores a franchise-high 73 points

Friday, Luka Doncic equaled the fourth-highest scoring total in NBA history with 73 points, helping the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Atlanta Hawks 148-143.

With 41 points in the first half in a brilliant individual effort, the Slovenian star broke a Mavs record. Dallas continued their scorching run in the second half, holding off the resolute Hawks.

Doncic contributed seven assists and ten rebounds. He converted 15 of his 16 free throws and connected on 25 of his 33 field goals, including eight three-pointers.

Doncic said, “I was just going, you know, whatever the defense give me.” “I tried to make some plays in the second half because they doubled me all the time.”

Trae Young, who led the Hawks with 30 points after missing two games due to concussion protocol, was undone by his incredible performance.

Doncic entered the top NBA zone with his franchise-record effort. The only players who have scored more points in a single game are Wilt Chamberlain (who set a league record of 100 in 1962) and Kobe Bryant (who scored 81 in 2006).

In addition, Chamberlain has two 73-point performances and a 78-point performance, a mark that has previously been attained by Doncic and David Thompson.

“It’s stunning,” Doncic said. “I’m happy we prevailed.”

With less than two minutes remaining, the Hawks had closed the gap to three points, but with 58 seconds remaining, Doncic drove for a layup, drew a foul, and made the free throw to help extend the advantage back to seven points.

With ten seconds remaining, a basket by Young brought the score to three, but Tim Hardaway Jr.’s two free throws sealed the victory for the Mavs, who were playing without injured Kyrie Irving.

Doncic broke his own team record of 60 points, which he had established against the New York Knicks on December 27, 2022, with a career-high 25 baskets.

Less than a week had passed since Joel Embiid scored 70 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory against San Antonio, and Doncic’s performance wasn’t the only spectacular display of the evening.

Despite Phoenix guard Devin Booker’s impressive 62 points, the Suns’ seven-game winning run was ended by the Indiana Pacers, who defeated them 133-131.

With 29 in the first quarter, Booker surpassed his own Suns record for most points in a quarter.

They held a 17-point lead at one point, but with less than a minute remaining, the Pacers knotted the game. Obi Toppin’s putback basket after a Pascal Siakam miss clinched the win, as Booker was unable to make his three-point attempt as the shot clock ran out.

Following his 52-point performance against New Orleans earlier this month, it was Booker’s second game of 50 or more points this season. In 2017 he scored a career-high 70 against Boston.

Six Pacers players scored in double digits, including Siakam’s 31 points, as Indiana won for the second consecutive game.