Dallas Mavs Star Luka Doncic Makes NBA History, Passes Wilt Chamberlain with 40-Point Triple-Double
With each passing game, the MVP case for Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic grows stronger.
On Saturday night in Portland, the four-time All-NBA First Teamer made some more NBA history as the Mavs went on to defeat the Trail Blazers 131-120. Doncic finished the game with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes of action while shooting 15-28 from the field.
With that stat line, Doncic passed NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the all-time 40-point triple-doubles list. Chamberlain had seven career games where he posted a 40-point triple-double, and now Doncic has eight such games. Players ahead of Doncic on the list include Russell Westbrook (13), James Harden (16) and Oscar Robertson (22).
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Given that Doncic has already climbed to fourth on that list before turning 25 years old, one would have to think he has a solid chance of making a run at the three players ahead of him as he's just now entering his prime years.
Doncic also made some franchise history on Saturday as well, as he passed Dirk Nowitzki for most 35-point games a Maverick. Just so you can grasp how insane of a statement that is, Nowitzki played in 1,522 games over 21 seasons. Doncic has played in 354 games and is in his sixth season in the league.
With the Mavs being so shorthanded lately with the injuries to Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Dereck Lively II and several others who have been in and out of the lineups, Doncic has had to turn things up a notch. He has now scored at least 30 points in 10 consecutive games, becoming the 22nd player in league history to accomplish that feat and the sixth player to do it in the last 10 seasons (h/t EliasSports). Doncic reached the 30-point mark in the first half alone against the Blazers on Saturday night.
Now, Doncic will take his record-breaking game to Denver on Monday, where the 16-9 Mavs, who are now third in the Western Conference standings, will take on Nikola Jokic and the 17-10 Denver Nuggets. Dallas will look to even the score, as it lost to Denver 125-114 on Nov. 3.
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