Luka Doncic scores 73 points in win over Hawks, 4th-most in NBA history

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic just entered the NBA record book, accomplishing something that has only been done by three other players in league history.

On Friday night, on the fourth anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s passing, Doncic channeled his inner ‘Mamba Mentality’ to score 73 points, leading the Mavericks to a 148-143 road win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Doncic joins Wilt Chamberlain, Bryant and David Thompson as the only players in NBA history to score at least 73 points in a single game. Chamberlain owns the NBA record with 100 points, and Doncic's 73-point performance was the most points scored since Bryant's 81-point outing in 2006.

“I was just going, taking whatever the defense gave me. In the second half, they doubled me all the time, so I tried to make some plays," Doncic said postgame. "Sometimes I [attacked] and I would break the double, so just seeing the game.”

Dallas came into the game having lost three straight, including a 23-point drubbing against rival Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. 

“We played great, we played great offense,” Doncic said. "I just wanted to get the win, as we have been struggling lately.”

The 2024 All-Star starter shot an absurd 75.8% from the floor (25-of-33), made 8 triples and sank 15-of-16 free throws. He becomes the first player in NBA history to score 70+ points while shooting 75% or higher from the field.

Doncic was brilliant all game long, scoring 18, 23, 16 and 16 across the four quarters. When the Hawks tried to be physical with him, he credited his teammates, Dante Exum and Josh Green, for coming up big as well.

“It was great, just trust, I always trust my teammates. Making the right play, they’re (Exum and Green) always big time for us. Just the next man up mentality. Both were great today,” Doncic said.

Trae Young, who was traded for Doncic in 2018, had 30 points and 11 assists for the Hawks, while Jalen Johnson added 25 points in the losing effort.