Luka Doncic etched his name in history with a monstrous performance against the New York Knicks, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 126-121 win in overtime.
Doncic was simply unguardable Tuesday night, pouring in a career-high 60 points, adding a career-high 21 rebounds and 10 assists as the Mavericks pulled off the miracle comeback after trailing by nine points with 33.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
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Doncic sent the game into overtime as he deliberately missed the free throw, coming up with the rebound and somehow getting the game-tying shot to go.
Another look at Luka’s UNBELIEVABLE tying bucket in Dallas 🤯
He has 56 PTS, 21 REB, and 10 AST in OT
WATCH: https://t.co/WjxYAo0Ivs pic.twitter.com/LLAJdtCRCc
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2022
With his career-best performance, not only did Doncic rewrite the Mavericks record books, but achieved an NBA first.
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Let’s dive into the numbers behind Doncic’s absurd night.
By The Numbers
An NBA first
The list of players to record a 60-point triple-double with 20+ rebounds is as follows.
1. Luka Doncic.
End of list.
Luka Doncic is the only player in NBA history to ever record 60+ PTS, 20+ REB, and 10+ AST in a game. pic.twitter.com/0Io2BVx9Rq
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) December 28, 2022
He becomes just the seventh player in NBA history to record a 50-point triple-double and at 23 years, 302 days is also the youngest to do so, eclipsing the previous mark held by Wilt Chamberlain.
Doncic is also the third player ever to do so with 20+ rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1963 & 1968) and Elgin Baylor (1961).
Luka is the 3rd player in NBA history with 50 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1963 & 1968) and Elgin Baylor (1961). https://t.co/T5VLuGOZsO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 28, 2022
Doncic also joined James Harden as the only players in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double.
There are two 60-point triple-doubles in NBA history.
Luka has double the amount of rebounds as Harden. pic.twitter.com/iNMGYAbICP
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 28, 2022
A franchise record
Less than a week after tying Dirk Nowitzki for the most 50-point games in Dallas Mavericks franchise history (2), Doncic put himself at the top of the list with tonight’s historic performance.
MORE: Dirk Nowitzki weighs in on NBA’s GOAT debate
He now holds the franchise record for most points scored in a single game, passing Nowitzki’s previous record of 53 points.
Doncic now owns four of the top 10 highest-scoring performances in franchise history.
| Rank | Player | Opponent | Year | Points |
| 1. | Luka Doncic | Knicks | 2022 | 60 |
| 2. | Dirk Nowitzki | Rockets | 2004 | 53 |
| 3. | Luka Doncic | Clippers | 2022 | 51 |
| 4. | Dirk Nowitzki | Warriors | 2006 | 51 |
| 4. | Luka Doncic | Rockets | 2022 | 50 |
| 6. | Jim Jackson | Nuggets | 1994 | 50 |
| 7. | Jamal Mashburn | Bulls | 1994 | 50 |
| 8. | Luka Doncic | Pelicans | 2022 | 49 |
| 9. | Mark Aguirre | 76ers | 1985 | 49 |
| 10. | Josh Howard | Jazz | 2007 | 47 |
Doncic leads the NBA
Doncic is the first player this season to record 60 points, eclipsing the previous high of 59 held by 76ers big man Joel Embiid.
Of the ten 50+ point games this season, Doncic joins Joel Embiid and Devin Booker as the only players to record multiple 50-point games this season.
| Rank | Player | Opponent | Points |
| 1. | Luka Doncic | Knicks | 60 |
| 2. | Joel Embiid | Jazz | 59 |
| 3. | Devin Booker | Pelicans | 58 |
| 4. | Anthony Davis | Wizards | 55 |
| 5. | Joel Embiid | Hornets | 53 |
| 5. | Pascal Siakam | Knicks | 52 |
| 7. = | Devin Booker | Bulls | 51 |
| 7. = | Darius Garland | Timberwolves | 51 |
| 9.= | Stephen Curry | Suns | 50 |
| 9.= | Luka Doncic | Rockets | 50 |
Social Reaction
NBA players around the league, past and present, were locked in on Doncic’s historic night, taking to Twitter to marvel at the Slovenian’s ridiculous performance.
Luka Magic!!! Goooood Lawd…
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) December 28, 2022
Me seeing Luka’s stats tonight…wow pic.twitter.com/FHdYwQXXmW
— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) December 28, 2022
60/20/10?? este tio no es normal @luka7doncic
— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) December 28, 2022
@luka7doncic 🙌🏽🙌🏽🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Willy Hernangómez Geuer (@willyhg94) December 28, 2022
Luka went crazy tonight
— Lance Stephenson (@StephensonLance) December 28, 2022
60/21/10 is INSANE!!!!!!! Luka 🌺
— kuz (@kylekuzma) December 28, 2022
Unreal @luka7doncic!!! 👏🏼🙌🏼💪🏼🔥#Respect
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) December 28, 2022
OMG Luka is COOKIN these boys 🔥🔥🔥
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) December 28, 2022
It’ll be another statue in Dallas… Luka is like that! 🤷🏾♂️
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) December 28, 2022
With the MVP race wide open, Doncic is doing his best to establish himself as the favorite for the award.
