Mavs Step Back: Luka Doncic's Insane Stat Line in Mavs' Christmas Day Win vs. Suns; Dereck Lively Return
It's the season of giving, and Luka Doncic exemplified that on Christmas Day by giving the Phoenix Suns many buckets during the Dallas Mavericks' 128-114 win on Monday.
In the win, which moved the Mavs to 18-12 on the season and fifth in the Western Conference standings, Doncic finished with 50 points, six rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and three blocks while shooting 15-25 overall, 8-16 from deep and 12-12 from the free-throw line. He also became the fastest active player to reach 10,000 career points.
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Doncic tied NBA legend Rick Barry for the third-most points scored during a Christmas Day game in league history. No. 1 on the list is Bernard King with 60 points, and No. 2 is Wilt Chamberlain with 59.
"It's fun for me," Doncic said when asked about receiving boos from the Phoenix crowd. "When you make a shot, the whole gym is quiet. So that's the best feeling in the world."
On this episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we give a full recap of what transpired in Phoenix. Not only does Doncic get his much-deserved flowers, but 19-year-old rookie big man Dereck Lively II made his return from a four-game absence due to an ankle injury and put up a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. Dallas is 4-1 this season with Lively records a double-double and 1-5 when he doesn't play.
From there, we discuss the continued struggles of Grant Williams, why the Mavs will likely be active at this season's trade deadline, the potential return of Kyrie Irving and much more. You can watch or listen to this episode below. Also, be sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you get your podcasts!
