A historic performance and to salute it, a simple photo posted on social networks with a sheet of paper and the number: “73”.
73, like the number of points scored by Luka Doncic in Atlanta this Friday evening.
The Slovenian helped the Dallas Mavericks win 148-143 and became the fourth player with the highest single-game score in NBA history.
Only Wilt Chamberlain (100 points in 1962), Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006) - who died four years ago to the day, January 26, 2020 - and David Thompson (73 points in 1978), had already done at least as much although Doncic in history.
During an offensive festival, Doncic shot 25 out of 33 including 8 out of 13 from distance and made 15 out of 16 free throws, in 44 minutes on the Hawks floor.
pic.twitter.com/ij0PpNDMou
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) January 27, 2024
At 24, the Slovenian, selected Thursday for his fifth All-Star Game, has established himself as one of the best NBA players, where he arrived in 2018 (number 3 in the draft), after dominating the courts in Europe with the Real Madrid jersey when he was not yet an adult.
HISTORY
73-POINTS
LUKA DONCIC 🤯
🔥 73 PTS
🔥 25/33 FGM (75.8%)
🔥 15/16 FTM
🔥 8 3PM
He becomes the 4th player in NBA history to score +73 points and the first with +70 at 75% per shot pic.twitter.com/TSPSEdk4zC
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) January 27, 2024
62 points by Booker, the guard of the Phoenix Suns
Luka Doncic already held the record for points in a Dallas Mavericks match with 60 points in December 2022. This Friday, he was not the only one to flare up on the NBA floors: the American Devin Booker scored 62 points for the Phoenix Suns, but lost against the Indiana Pacers (133-131) of Pascal Siakam (31 points).
D-Book left it all on the floor tonight, scoring 62 points, including 37 in the 1st half.
This is the 2nd-highest scoring game of Booker's career (70).
pic.twitter.com/nuPEwWbMNb
— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2024
2023 MVP Joel Embiid scored 70 points Monday for Philadelphia against Victor Wembanyama's Spurs.
San Antonio also returned to victory by beating Portland, 116 to 100. Wemby delivered another high-level match (23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks), but his few turnovers (7 in total) caused the dissatisfaction of his trainer Gregg Popovich.