Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic became the first teenager in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double after he dropped 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Toronto Raptors.
The Mavs lost to the first-place Toronto Raptors 123-120, but Doncic scored a career-high 35 points.
Doncic, 19, scored 30-plus in back-to-back games. He is averaging 20.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
Slovenian Wunderkind
The Mavs hoped that rookie Luka Doncic would become a big-time player for them. They had no clue that the teenager from Slovenia would take Dallas by storm. The rookie leads the Mavs in scoring.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks are taking heat from their fans for trading away Luka Donic in favor of guard Trae Young. Although Young has settled into a starting role averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 assists per game, he’s not close to Doncic’s sensational year.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks last week, Doncic recorded his first triple-double. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to achieve the momentous achievement.
Doncic earned his second triple double of the season against the Raptors. The Raptors could not stop the rookie from scoring, but they held on for the win.
“For me, what matters is the victory,” Doncic said. “The triple-double was special for sure, but it would be even more if we got the win.”
When the dust settled, Doncic finished with 35 points and locked up his sixth 30-plus game of the season.
Smith Trade Rumors
Mavs guard Dennis Smith, Jr. found himself among the many names mentioned in rumors as the NBA’s trade deadline approached.
In his second season, Smith (12.9 ppg) struggled to match the output from his rookie season (15.2 ppg). Some of that has to do with the proverbial sophomore slump, while the other is adjusting the Doncic.
Smith and pretty much everyone in the Mavs organization did not expect Doncic to make this big of an impact so early in his career. While Doncic flourishes, Smith is struggling to find his way.
After a week or so on the trading block, the Mavs concluded that they did not want to part ways with Smith. With Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight of his career, Smith and Doncic are the future of the Mavs. The team smoothed everything out and their second-year point guard not going anywhere.
On Deck for Mavs
The Mavs are 22-27 and stuck in third place in the Southwest Division behind the Houston Rockets (29-20) and San Antonio Spurs (29-22). They are six games back in the hunt for the #8 seed in the Western Conference.
The Mavs have two games against the two basement dwellers in the Eastern Conference. They hit the road this week to play the New York Knicks (10-38) at Madison Square Garden and the Pistons in Detroit. They return home on Saturday to host the Cleveland Cavs (10-41), who have the distinction of being the worst team in the NBA.
According to the South Point Casino and Sports Book in Las Vegas, the Dallas Mavericks are 300-1 odds to win the 2019 NBA championship.
