Luka Dončić scored a franchise-record 73 points, tying for fourth in NBA history in the Dallas Mavericks’ 148-143 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Doncic surpassed his previous career high of 60 points after scoring a team-high 41 in the first half.
He joined Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson as players to score 73 points. Chamberlain, who holds the NBA record with 100 points, also had 78 and 73 points, while Kobe Bryant scored 81 on January 22, 2006.
Doncic shot 25 of 33 from the field, made 8 of 13 from 3-point range and made 15 of 16 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds and seven assists in 44 ½ minutes.
No other player has ever had as many points, rebounds and assists in the same game as Doncic.
His milestone game took place in his original NBA home, at least for a few minutes. Doncic was drafted by the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 before having his draft rights traded to Dallas for Young with the No. 5 pick and a 2019 first-round pick used to select Cam Reddish.
Josh Green had 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. was the only other Dallas player in double figures with 13 points. The Mavericks ended a three-game skid and sent the Hawks to their fourth straight loss.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 30 points and Jalen Johnson added 25.
Pacers rally to spoil Booker’s big night
Obi Toppin broke the tie on a putback with 3.4 seconds left and the Indiana Pacers overcame Devin Booker’s 62 points in a 133-131 victory, ending the Phoenix’s seven-game winning streak Suns.
Booker scored 50 or more points for the second time this season and the seventh time in his career, falling eight short of his career high of 70 set in Boston on March 24, 2017.
Pascal Siakam scored 31 points and Toppin finished with 23 and 11 rebounds to help Indiana earn its second straight victory without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers fell behind 54-37 in the second quarter, but cut the deficit to 80-70 by halftime. They led 114-105 early in Game 4, but tied it twice in the final 90 seconds before Toppin’s basket won the game.
Harden propels the Clippers past the Raptors
James Harden had 22 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his 75th career triple-double to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to their fourth straight victory, 127-107 over the Toronto Raptors.
Harden, who notched his first triple-double this season, ranks eighth all-time in that category. He has at least 20 points and 10 assists in each of his last three games.
Paul George scored 21 points and Russell Westbrook added 20 as the Clippers won for the 12th time in 14 games.
Scottie Barnes scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors, who lost their fourth in a row and ninth in 11 games.
