Mavs’ 40-Point Party: Luka, Kyrie Join Elite Scoring Duo Company
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told the media after their Feb. 13 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves that “we’re here to outscore people.”
Well, outscore people they did on Thursday night.
Dallas earned a much-needed 133-126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on the shoulders of their two superstars, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who joined elite company.
Doncic and Irving both eclipsed 40+ points, becoming the first Mavs duo in history to do so and only the fifth pair of teammates in the last 30 years.
“It was definitely a different approach tonight, for us as a team, because we really wanted this,” Irving said after the win. “I wanted this.”
Doncic scored 42 points in his 12th 40-point game of the season, shooting 13-of-22 from the floor and 7-of-13 from downtown.
Irving added 40 points of his own on 15-of-22 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range.
“He was great, he had 40 (points),” Doncic said of Irving. “I mean not just today, he’s been great since the trade…playing with Kai is so easy so it helps me a lot.”
Now, Thursday’s 82-point scoring onslaught from the duo isn’t something you can expect on a night-to-night basis, but after a 1-4 start playing alongside each other, it’s a promising sign for things to come, especially against a contending team in Philadelphia.
“Luka was ready for the party. I was ready for the party tonight, and it was one of those games where we had some special performances and I’m just grateful that the work translated because it could’ve gone either way,” Irving said.
It was a party indeed — one that the 76ers wish they weren’t invited to.
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