Untenable, Luka Doncic managed Thursday in the NBA a triple-double to 41 points and a few magic tricks to guide Dallas to success in Brooklyn (129-125 ap).
For his part, Stephen Curry split 33 points to win Golden State against Miami (123-110).
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The 23-year-old Slovenian prodigy was among the favorites in the race for the regular season MVP, even before he started.
His new demonstration with the Nets did not upset the predictions, since he added to his purse 14 assists, 11 rebounds and 3 steals.
Here he is, the top scorer in the league, after four matches, with an average of 36.3 points.
He weighed heavily in overtime, being involved in 15 of the 17 points scored by the Mavericks, with 4 points and 5 assists including three in a row for banderillas behind the arc that made the difference.
For his teammates, it was a caviar and champagne evening, between his blind pass in the 3rd quarter, above his head, which found Maxi Kleber (15 pts), and the other two, successful in the back in the “
overtime
”, again for the Brazilian interior then for the shooter Reggie Bullock.
Luka “the right choices”
“
Obviously Luka is probably the best at taking the hard shots, the ones that matter, but he also knows how to pass well.
In overtime, they were really aggressive on him and he made the right choices, three or four times in a row
, ”said Kleber, admiringly.
In total, Dallas made 20 long-range baskets out of 40, better than the Nets (12/35), who were nevertheless able to count on Kevin Durant (37 pts, 5 assists) and Kyrie Irving (39 pts, 7 rebounds, 4 cons).
“
KD
” was even crucial in the last 45 seconds, first by countering an attempt by Doncic with his fingertips, then by going to the dunk to snatch the equalizer, after a pass from Ben Simmons (7 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 interceptions) who had just stolen the ball from the Slovenian.
But then he missed the Nets a second wind to avoid a fourth loss in five games.
In San Francisco, the match remained tight until the 4th quarter, when Stephen Curry planted 10 of his 33 points, including two award-winning shots that made seven in total, at 50% success.
To his credit also 9 assists and 7 rebounds, illustrating his efforts in all areas.
Vainly exemplary butler
He was not alone, as his "splash brother" Klay Thompson added 19 points, winger Andrew Wiggins scoring 18 (10 rebounds), for the third win in five games.
On the Heat side, who conceded a 4th setback in six games, Jimmy Butler was as usual an exemplary leader (27 pts at 8/13, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 interceptions), well supported by Bam Adebayo (26 pts, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks), but they lacked support from struggling Tyler Herro (7 pts at 3/12).
In Sacramento, the Grizzlies of Ja Morant (22 pts) inflicted a fourth consecutive defeat (125-110) on the Kings, thanks mainly to 31 points from Desmond Bane.
Finally, the Thunder took the best of the Clippers (118-110), deprived of Kawhi Leonard, spared after a serious knee injury which kept him away from the courts for 16 months.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 pts) and Luguenz Dort (21 pts) largely contributed to OKC's success, the Frenchman Ousmane Dieng remaining discreet (2 pts, 1 assist in 13 min).
Nicolas Batum was much more active (7 pts, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 interceptions, 1 against) within Clips led by Nick Powell (21 pts), Paul George missing his match (10 pts to 4 /12, 7 rbds).