Luka Doncic scored 51 factors to steer the Dallas Mavericks to their sixth victory in a row whereas the Brooklyn Nets stretched their NBA win streak to 11 on Saturday.
Doncic added 9 assists, six rebounds, 4 steals and a blocked shot in a maestro efficiency for the Mavericks in a 126-125 victory at San Antonio.
“I’m exhausted,” Doncic stated. “Our defense wasn’t great. At the end we got a couple stops. Overall we win the game and that’s it.”
The 23-year-old Slovenian guard sank two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining for the final Dallas factors, then grabbed a rebound after the Spurs’ Tre Jones missed a tying free throw try with 2.1 seconds remaining to seal the Mavs’ triumph.
It was the third 50-point effort in 5 video games for NBA scoring chief Doncic, who was at a loss to elucidate his high-point nights of the season.
“I don’t know,” Doncic stated. “Some games they are going to double (cover) me, some games they are going to let me run the pick and roll. I just accept the coverage and go from there.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich joked that San Antonio’s aim had been to maintain Doncic to 50 factors after he had 60 in a triple double on Tuesday in a Dallas victory.
Christian Wood, who added 25 factors and 7 rebounds for Dallas, marveled at what he sees as a Most Valuable Player-style effort.
“It’s incredible,” Wood stated. “In my seven years within the league, I’ve by no means seen anyone do what he is in a position to do.
“He’s on an incredible run. He’s playing like an MVP, clearly one of the best players in the league.”
Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving scored 28 factors and Kevin Durant added 23 to spark the Nets to a 123-106 victory at Charlotte, extending their win streak to 11.
The Nets improved to 24-12 and moved into second place within the Eastern Conference, turning into solely the second membership this season to succeed in 24 wins.
LaMelo Ball had 23 factors and 11 assists whereas Mason Plumlee added 22 factors and 10 rebounds for Charlotte, which fell to 10-27.
At the opposite finish of the spectrum, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their sixth straight defeat, a humbling 116-104 house loss to league-worst Detroit (10-29).
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 factors to steer the Pistons whereas Anthony Edwards netted 30 in a dropping trigger.
– TRIPLE DOUBLE BY EMBIID –
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid achieved his fifth profession triple double with 16 factors, 13 rebounds and 10 assists within the 76ers’ 115-96 triumph at Oklahoma City.
Tobias Harris led the Sixers with 23 factors whereas Shake Milton added 18 and De’Anthony Melton had 17 factors for Philadelphia.
Ja Morant scored 32 factors and the host Memphis Grizzlies beat New Orleans 116-101. New Zealander Steven Adams grabbed 21 factors for Memphis (22-13), which pulled inside a sport of Western Conference chief Denver.
Zion Williamson scored 20 factors to steer the Pelicans (23-13), who fell half a sport behind Denver.
Tyler Herro sank a 3-pointer on the buzzer to present Miami a 126-123 victory at Utah. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 32 factors whereas Herro added 29 for Miami.
Julius Randle scored 35 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds to steer New York’s 108-88 romp at Houston, which snapped the Knicks’ five-game dropping streak.
Caris LeVert scored 23 factors and the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a three-game dropping streak by edging Chicago 103-102 when DeMar DeRozan missed a successful soar shot for the Bulls on the buzzer.
Myles Turner scored 34 factors and Tyrese Haliburton added 24 to steer the Indiana Pacers over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 131-130. Chris Paul scored a game-high 45 factors for the Clippers.
