Luka Dončić scores 73 points vs. Hawks, tied for fourth-most in NBA history

Luka Dončić’s extraordinary performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday catapulted him into NBA history, as he scored a staggering 73 points in a game that not only reset his career high but also established new records for the Dallas Mavericks and elevated him into the company of basketball legends.

The Dallas Mavericks secured a hard-fought 148-143 victory against the Hawks, with Dončić’s 73-point outburst being a crucial factor. This remarkable achievement ties him with Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson for the fourth-highest point total in a single NBA game. Dončić’s scoring frenzy further solidified his standing as one of the most unstoppable forces in the league.

Notably, this incredible performance makes Luka Dončić the 10th player in NBA history to surpass the rare 70-point mark and holds the distinction of being the first European player to achieve this feat. Joining the elite group that includes legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and Damian Lillard marks a significant milestone in Dončić’s young career.

Dončić’s shooting accuracy during the game adds another layer to his historic night. He finished with 25-of-33 shooting, 8-of-13 from 3-point range, and an impressive 15-of-16 from the free-throw line. These numbers underscore the efficiency and dominance displayed by the young star, making him the first player to score over 60 points on 90% true shooting.

The context of Dončić’s performance against the Hawks adds an intriguing element to the narrative. The Hawks, who initially held the third overall draft pick in 2018, traded it to the Mavericks, leading to the selection of Luka Dončić. Trae Young and Cam Reddish, acquired by the Hawks through that trade, became part of this storyline, creating a compelling dynamic between the two teams.

Interestingly, Dončić’s historic night is part of a broader trend in the NBA this week. The league witnessed multiple players achieving remarkable scoring feats, with Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Devin Booker all surpassing the 60-point mark in separate games. The frequency of such high-scoring performances this season has been unprecedented, marking a departure from historical trends.

In a season characterized by offensive firepower, Dončić’s 73-point masterpiece stands out as a defining moment. The NBA, which has seen a resurgence of 70-point scorers, acknowledges the rarity and significance of such performances, adding another layer to the ongoing narrative of the 2023-24 season.

As the league experiences an influx of extraordinary individual performances, Luka Dončić’s name now stands alongside the basketball immortals, etching his place in history as one of the few to achieve the remarkable feat of scoring 70 or more points in a single NBA game. The young Slovenian’s journey in the NBA continues to captivate fans and reshape the narrative of the league’s evolving landscape.