The Dallas Mavericks took on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in a game that will be forever remembered by Mavericks fans thanks to star point guard Luka Dončić having the best game of his six-year NBA career.
There have been a ton of elite performances from some of the best players around the league this year. But Dončić clearly entered the top of that discussion with his great play against Atlanta on Friday night.
Fans watching this game knew right away that this game would be special for Dončić, scoring 41 points in the first half, the most from any player this season.
A first half tribute to Dirk… 41 POINTS FOR LUKA DONCIC IN THE FIRST HALF. 🥹🪄#MFFL | @dallasmavs on @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/UT7qkgkzp2
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) January 27, 2024
If Dončić continued on this pace, he would have tied the late great Kobe Bryant for the second-most points in a single game in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain.
He didn’t quite accomplish this, but he did still have a sensational second half, finishing the game with a whopping 73 points to go along with ten rebounds and seven assists. This propelled the Mavericks to a 148-143 victory over the Hawks.
LUKA FINISHES WITH 73 POINTS IN A MAVS WIN! 🏀🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/ZchFyqTBe9
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 27, 2024
When you break down the performance from Donćic, it actually ranks very favorably against even the likes of Kobe Bryant or Wilt Chamberlain in terms of overall efficiency in the game.
Dončić made 25 of 33 shots from the field, 15 of 16 free throw attempts and 8 of his 13 three-point attempts. This calculates to a 91.2 % true-shooting percentage, making it the most efficient 70-point game in NBA history.
73 points on 91.2% TS (!!!)
Most efficient 70-point game in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/20ggtiZ3TA
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) January 27, 2024
As you would expect, fans gave Dončić his flowers on social media after his spectacular game.
— Only 70/10/7 game ever
— Franchise PTS record
— NBA season high
— Most PTS since Kobe in 06
— Best FG% in a 70 bomb ever
— Best 3P% in a 70 bomb everThere has never been a player like Luka Dončić. pic.twitter.com/NiY52sk9QV
— MavsMuse (@MavsMuse) January 27, 2024
LUKA DONCIC IS A FREAKIN’ MAD MAN 😱 pic.twitter.com/zQ6ncsm6Iu
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) January 27, 2024
LUKA DONCIC MASTERCLASS 🤯
🔥73 PTS
🔥10 REB
🔥7 AST
🔥75% FGWHAT A PERFORMANCE 🪄 pic.twitter.com/aMVUMVPbkB
— ENJ🏀Y (@EnjoyBBall) January 27, 2024
Luka Dončić just posted a Game Score of 64.0!
That is the 2nd highest score in our database, behind only Michael Jordan in 1990 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FTkHDUgUzC
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) January 27, 2024
LUKA DONCIC DROPS 73 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST IN MAVS 148-143 WIN OVER THE HAWKS 🚨
FOURTH MOST PTS IN NBA HISTORY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JdiOcICJoj
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) January 27, 2024
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd echoed these sentiments in his post-game press conference after the game, comparing his star player’s excellent day to a “Picasso painting.”
“I think we talked about it the other night, the Picasso,” said Kidd. “This is one of his best paintings. This will sell at a high price. Just the way that he painted the game tonight. That was pretty special tonight. We needed every point, every minute, and he delivered.”
"Picasso. This is one of his best paintings. This will sell at a high price."
Jason Kidd speaks on the 73/10/7 performance from 24-year-old, 5x All-Star, Luka Doncic. #MFFL | @dallasmavs on @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/yY747Q0rc5
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) January 27, 2024
On the other side of the ball, this performance has to especially hurt for the Hawks considering their history with Dončić. The Hawks famously drafted Dončić No. 3 in 2018 before trading him to Dallas for the rights to Trae Young, who was selected two picks later.
While Young is a great player in his own right, this game further illustrates that Dončić is just on an entirely different level.
