Luka Doncic ended the year on a final recital by scoring 51 points which allowed the Dallas Mavericks to win on the wire on the floor of the San Antonio Spurs (126-125), Saturday, in the NBA.
Not sure that the Slovenian star has chained on a long New Year's Eve … “
I am exhausted
”, admitted Doncic, at the end of his third meeting with more than 50 points during the end of the year celebrations.
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And, on Saturday evening, the 23-year-old Slovenian went all the way as he scored the last two points for the Texas franchise before taking a final rebound on a missed free throw from Tre Jones, sealing the 21st. victory of the season (in 37 games) of the "
Mavs
".
“
Our defense was not extraordinary.
But, towards the end, we managed a pair of blocks.
And we win, period
”, reacted Luka Doncic again.
Christian Wood (25 points, 7 rebounds) was more vocal about his teammate's new mammoth performance.
"
It's unbelievable... In seven years in the League, I have never seen anyone do what they can do
," he commented.
"
He's on an incredible streak, he's playing like an MVP
."
In 37 minutes, Doncic shot 18 of 29 - including 6 of 10 from three points -, delivered 9 assists and took 6 rebounds.
He is now at nearly 37 pts on average for the season, and Dallas on six successes in a row before going to Houston on Monday.
And 11 for Brooklyn
In terms of current series, however, it is Brooklyn who holds the current record, since the Nets have chained an 11th victory, in Charlotte (123-106), further accrediting the idea that they should be counted on in 2023.
Kyrie Irving (28) and Kevin Durant (23) scored more than 50 points between them, and the New Yorkers climbed to second place in the Eastern Conference (24 v., 12 d.), which would have been worth a good odds even a few weeks ago, when Brooklyn was struggling in the crisis, on and off the field.
End of series, on the other hand, for the Pelicans of New Orleans, subdued in Tennessee by the Memphis Grizzlies of Ja Morant (32 points).
Despite Zion Williamson's 20 points, the Louisianans, with a 23-13 record, slipped from the lead in the Western Conference, dominated by Denver (23-12).
At the other end of the standings, the Minnesota Timberwolves of Frenchman Rudy Gobert (9 pts, 10 rebounds) sank at home against the Pistons, who were last in the East (10-29), recording a sixth defeat in a row ( 116-104).
Joel Embiid's Sixers, on the other hand, resumed their march forward by winning 115-96 on the floor of the Thunder, in Oklahoma City.
Without James Harden, spared, the Cameroonian pivot achieved the triple-double (16 pts, 13 rbds and 10 assists), but it was Tobias Harris who was the main scorer (23 pts) of "
Phillie
", who can display ambition for 2023 after a month of December with nine wins (in 14 matches).
In Utah, Tyler Herro gave the Miami Heat victory over the Jazz with a three-point shot on the buzzer (126-123), while Julius Randle (35 pts, 12 rebounds) largely contributed to the success New York Knicks at Houston (108-88).
Finally, despite 45 points from Chris Paul, the LA Clippers ended the year on a false note by falling to Indiana (131-130), where Myles Turner (34 pts) and Tyrese Haliburton (24) led the Pacers to their 20th victory of the season.
Kahwi Leonard's teammates slip to 6th place in the West, with a 21-17 record.
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