Luka Doncic put on a dazzling display on Christmas Day, recording a monstrous triple-double of 50 points, 15 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and three blocks to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 128-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Doncic reached the 50-point mark for the sixth time in his regular-season career and drained eight 3-pointers as the Mavericks snapped their four-game losing streak. He received solid support from Derrick Jones Jr. (23 points), Dereck Lively II (20 points, 10 rebounds), and Tim Hardaway Jr. (18 points).
"I'm feeling good," Doncic declared after the game. Acknowledging the recent absences of key players, he added, "We missed Lively for (four) games, we missed (Irving) I don't know how many games, so we are far away from our potential. ... But 'next-man-up' mentality, and I can't wait until (Irving) comes back."
Despite Grayson Allen's season-high 32 points and career-tying eight 3-pointers, the Suns were unable to recover from their recent struggles, dropping their ninth out of the last 12 games. Chimezie Metu had a career night with 23 points and 19 rebounds for Phoenix, but Devin Booker (20 points, 10 assists), Kevin Durant (16 points), and Eric Gordon (14 points) couldn't provide enough firepower.
Doncic achieved a historic feat early in the game, surpassing the 10,000-point mark with a 34-foot 3-pointer in the first quarter. This accomplishment arrived in his 358th game, tying Bob McAdoo for the seventh-fastest in NBA history.
The Mavericks shot lights-out, connecting on 53.6% of their field goals and 36.4% of their 3-pointers. Phoenix, however, struggled to find their rhythm, shooting 44.4% from the field and 34.1% from deep.
The Suns managed to build a lead in the third quarter thanks to Allen's offensive outburst, but Doncic took over in the final frame, hitting two crucial 3-pointers to put the Mavericks ahead and ultimately sealing the victory with a fading jumper late in the game.
Doncic's dominance was evident throughout the night, as he outscored Booker and Durant combined in the first half (24 points to 20 points). This impressive performance not only secured the win for the Mavericks but also served as a reminder of Doncic's immense talent and leadership abilities.