In the past week, the NBA has had two single-game scoring 70+ grand occasions, four single-game 60+ performances, and only 5 days after Embiid scored 70 points in a single game, Doncic scored 73 points in a single game in the Mavericks' away game against the Hawks today. There were 2 single-game 70+ performances in a week, which was the first time in NBA history, and the last time there were two consecutive single-game 70+ performances 13 days apart, which was created by the ancient "mythical beast" Chamberlain on November 4 and 17, 1962.
Today's protagonist belongs to Luka Doncic, who played 44 minutes and 43 seconds in this game, shooting 25 of 33, 8 of 13 three-pointers, and 15 of 16 free throws, scoring a career-high 73 points, plus 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal. According to statistics, Doncic scored 70+ with a true shooting rate of 91.2% in this game, which is also the most efficient 70+ in history, 10% higher than the closest Lillard. And 73 points is also Doncic's career high, and it is also Doncic's 7th NBA career (regular season) 50+!
The 73 points also made Doncic the most active scorer, and before that, the record for the most points on the active roster was held by Lillard and Mitchell, and now the honor belongs to Doncic alone. The most 70+ points in NBA history is Chamberlain, Zhang Dashuai has scored 70+ points in a single game a total of 5 times in his career, and the highest score is Zhang Dashuai's crazy feat of 100 points in a single game.
As a professional player, being able to score such a high score in a single game is something that is unattainable. Just like Kobe Bryant once scored 81 points in a single game, Luka's 73 points today are also a rare spectacle, and 73 points can rank fourth in NBA history.
In addition to Luka's 73 points today, in another game, the Suns players also scored a high score of 62 points. As a result, there were 4 single-game 60+ performances in the NBA this week, namely: Embiid 70 points, Towns 62 points, Doncic 73 points, and Booker 62 points. Interestingly, Towns and Booker's 62 points in a single game didn't help the team win, while Embiid and Doncic's 70+ teams won the victory. The last time there were four 60+ performances in a week was back in 1962, when Chamberlain and Jerry West did it respectively.
History is always like this, the last time there were two consecutive single-game 70+ was in 1962, and the last time there were four 60+ in a week was also in 1962. While we didn't witness Chamberlain's two single-game 70+ performances in the 1962 season, nor did we witness Chamberlain and Jerry West churn down four 60+ performances in one week. However, in 2024, we witnessed Embiid, Towns, Doncic, and Booker each score 60+ performances in one week, which is the first time in NBA history.
In today's small-ball era, we've seen great scoring come about countless times. We all know that Doncic has super scoring ability, and on the basketball court, Doncic is an unbeatable presence. When he got the ball, the whole stadium seemed to stand still, and all eyes were on him, looking forward to his next performance. And today, he once again proved his quality and led the team to victory on his own.
In the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks, Doncic used 33 shots and 16 free throws to cut down the luxurious statistics of 73 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. In this game, he not only set a new career high in points, but also became the 10th player in history to score 70+ points in a single game.
Doncic's performance isn't just in the stats. In the competition, his performance was full of intelligence and creativity. He uses his technique, speed and power to break through opposition defences and create spectacular chances time after time. At the same time, he also created excellent scoring opportunities for his teammates, and he also showed his quality on the defensive end, using excellent judgment and reflexes to successfully limit the opponent's attack.
So far this season, the Mavericks have a 25-20 record, ranking 8th in the West, and before this game, the Mavericks lost to the Lakers, Celtics, and Suns. So, a win in this game is crucial for the Mavericks. Last season, the Mavericks were in a good situation in the first half of the season, but in the end they didn't even touch the playoffs, although this had something to do with the deal at the time, but I didn't expect the Mavericks to decline so quickly. Irving has recently been out for an extended period of time with a finger injury, so today's game will be crucial for the Mavericks, who are not in a good situation.
Today's victory not only ended the Mavericks' losing streak, but also injected strong confidence into the team. It also narrowed the gap between the team and the Pelicans in front of him into one game, and Doncic's performance in the game was undoubtedly the team's hero, and he proved his worth with his own strength. As a young player, being able to score 73 points in a single game is indeed a shock, but Doncic still has a long way to go. His talent, hard work, and determination have made him a true basketball superstar. In the future, he is expected to continue to create more miracles and brilliance.