Doncic and Irving Lead Mavericks to Victory
Luka Doncic contributed 26 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double, while Kyrie Irving scored 30 points. Dante Exum’s crucial three-pointer with 27.5 seconds left sealed the victory for the Mavericks, who defeated the Kings 107-103 on the road.
Mavericks’ Winning Streak
The Mavericks extended their winning streak to six games and secured their 10th win in their last 11 games. Winning two consecutive games against the Kings, the Mavericks solidified their position as the 6th seed in the Western Conference, narrowing the gap with the 5th seeded Pelicans to just 1 game and leading the 7th seeded Suns by 1.5 games. The Kings, on the other hand, lost two crucial games and dropped to the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings.
Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Despite trailing by as much as 15 points at one point and 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks staged a dramatic comeback led by Irving, who scored 14 points in the final quarter, and Doncic, who added 7 points. The Kings struggled with a team shooting percentage of only 33.3% in the fourth quarter, compared to nearly double that of the Mavericks. Additionally, allowing their opponents to make 7 three-pointers, the Kings found themselves at a disadvantage in the playoff race.
Irving Reaches Milestone
Kyrie Irving reached the milestone of 17,000 career points, becoming the 103rd player in NBA history and the 12th active player to achieve this feat. Among the players from the 2011 NBA Draft class, Irving became the first to surpass the 17,000-point mark, leading ahead of stars like Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard.
Impressive Performances
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Harrison Barnes contributed 20 points and 6 rebounds. Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 26th triple-double of the season and 58th of his career. Sabonis also achieved his 56th consecutive double-double of the season, totaling 69 games.
Sabonis’ Statistical Milestone
Sabonis tied for the third-most double-doubles in a single season in modern league history. He joins the likes of Andre Drummond (2018-19), Dwight Howard (2007-08), Kevin Garnett (2004-05), and John Stockton (1991-92), trailing only Hakeem Olajuwon’s 72 in 1992-93 and Kevin Garnett’s 71 in 2003-04. (Panalo999)