Luka Doncic has scored 30 or more points in 7 of the Mavericks’ 12 games this season.
Prepare the ground this week is Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic, who rebounded from one of his worst performances of the season in New Orleans on Wednesday to generate a Gem of 26 points and 10 assists in Washington on the second night of a back-to-back set without Kyrie Irving (left foot).
Doncic has accumulated 21 points in the first half by picking his NBA-best 20-point sixth half of the season.
A statistic to know: 6-0 — The Mavs remain the league’s only undefeated team (6-0) in clutch time (minutes played with the scoring margin within five points with five minutes or less remaining) thanks in large part to Doncic.
The four-time All-Star is 5-of-7 from deep this season in terms of clutch time. Dallas played 55 decisive games in 2022-23, finishing 26-29 with the four-time All-Star shooting 7 of 36 from distance.
Another statistic to know: 73% — Through Thursday, the Mavs are 9-3 and in second position in the Western Conference. That record was built, in part, on clutch play, as the Mavs are. the only undefeated team (6-0) in five-point games over the final five minutes. This is a big reversal of fortune compared to last season when they struggled in close games after acquiring Kyrie Irving.
It should come as no surprise that Doncic is the team’s top scorer, with more clutch points (25) than two teammates combined, after shooting 8 of 11, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range with the score within five in the last five. What may be surprising is how poorly Doncic shot from 3 (38 for 166, 22.3%) before this season.
Luka Doncic makes a 3-point shot
| Season | 3 p.m. | 3PA | 3P% | Lg. avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 12 | 40 | 30.0% | 31.5% |
| 2019-20 | 7 | 41 | 17.1% | 32.6% |
| 2020-21 | 6 | 23 | 26.1% | 33.2% |
| 2021-22 | 6 | 26 | 23.1% | 30.9% |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 36 | 19.4% | 31.8% |
| 2023-24 | 5 | 7 | 71.4% | 30.8% |
| TOTAL | 43 | 173 | 24.9% | 31.9% |
Clutch = Game within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime
Until November 16, 2023
Doncic takes harder 3-point shots than most players, and he’s 6 of 12 on 3-pointers in the playoffs. But this early season success is something new. — John Schumann
What they say : “Luka and this group set the tone, including arriving at 4 a.m., the (potential) excuses of being tired or planning. The maturity, the confidence, to execute, I thought they did a great job from the beginning. – Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd.
And now, the top 5 of the 2022-23 Kia Race towards the MVP ladder.
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Season statistics: 30.0 points per game, 13.9 plays, 8.4 plays per game
His case : Good luck toppling Kia’s two-time MVP, who just won his fourth straight game with 30 or more points, a streak that ranks as the second longest of his career. Jokic enters Denver’s upcoming five-game road trip having tallied 20-plus points and 15-plus rebounds in 11 straight outings.
The plot thickens in New Orleans on Friday for Denver’s third tournament game of the season.
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Season statistics: 30.7 points per game, 7.8 plays, 8.1 plays per game
His case : Doncic leads the league’s second-highest scoring offense (123.4 points per game), and he’s made subtle changes, like taking more catch-and-shoot 3s, that have yielded significant results in helping push the Dallas paces at No. 5 in the league.
With 58 career triple-doubles, the Slovenian only needs one more to tie Larry Bird for ninth in NBA history. Difficult.
3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Season statistics: 31.9 ppg, 11.5 RPG, 5.8 apg
His case : Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday for the 12th time, Embiid scored a season-low 20 points in Wednesday’s loss to Boston as Philadelphia lost consecutive games for the first time times. The contest ended a three-game streak in which the reigning MVP made at least 10 free throws.
But it should bounce back in Atlanta Fridayafter averaging 25.3 points in 16 regular season games against the Hawks.
4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Last week’s ranking: Number 4
Season statistics: 28.5 points per game, 8.8 plays, 4.1 plays per game
His case : While some faces change around him due to injuries and personal issues early in the season, Tatum remains a Celtics constant as the 15th player in league history to score 10,000 points before the age of 26. He played in all 11 games for Boston.
Tatum leads Celtics 1-0 Toronto Friday for another match in Group C of the in-season tournament.
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Season statistics: 28.8 points per game, 6.5 role plays, 6.0 games per game
His case : The leader of the NBA’s third-youngest team, Gilgeous-Alexander, followed a 28-point, seven-steal night against San Antonio with 24 points and seven assists Thursday in a victory at Golden State to mark the start of ‘a three-game road trip.
The 25-year-old has scored 30 or more points in seven games. But make no mistake, it will pick your pockets. Gilgeous-Alexander entered the win against the Warriors leading the league in steals (2.6).
The next five:
6. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last week: #7)
7. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers (Last week: #9)
8. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (Last week: uncategorized)
9. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat (Last week: uncategorized)
ten. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (Last week: uncategorized)
And five others (listed alphabetically): Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns; Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers.
* * *
Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can email him here, find his archives here and follow him Twitter.
The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its clubs, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
