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Steve RichardsESPN
Three of the brightest young stars in the NBA put on a show Friday night when Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans posted a series of dazzling numbers.
Doncic had a career high of 46 points and 12 shots, Porzingis had 36 points and eight three-pointers (both season highs) and Williamson had a career high of 36 points on 14-of-15 shooting as the Mavericks 143-130 won it. their fourth consecutive victory.
Add the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram, who scored 30, and it was the first time in NBA history that four players 25 years or younger each had 30 or more points in a regulatory game, according to Elias Sports research . Doncic and Williamson become the second pair of opponents, each 21 or younger, who both score at least 35 in the same game. Kevin Durant (46 for the Thunder) and Eric Gordon (41 for the Clippers) did so on January 23, 2009, also according to research by Elias Sports.
Doncic dominant
Doncic, who tied his career last Saturday with 42 points in a showdown with Steph Curry, became the fourth player with 45 points and 10 assists in a game at the age of 21 and he joined Trae Young, Isiah Thomas and Michael joined. Jordan, according to Elijah.
“Luka hit on a run where he hit four or five, like tough, controversial three-pointers,” Williamson said. “There’s not really a defensive scheme you can do for it. He’s an excellent player who hits hard shots.”
It was the 13th game on 25 points for Doncic, the third longest series by a player aged 21 or younger in NBA history. Only Durant (29 in 2009-10) and LeBron James (16 in 2006) had longer streaks at age 21.
Doncic is the only player in Mavericks history with 40 points and ten assists in a game – and he has done so eight times (seven regular seasons, one playoff game).
Dynamic duo
Doncic and Porzingis jointly scored or assisted on 103 points, and Doncic passed on all eight defenders of the half he faced. Porzingis was 4-for-5 (all 3-points) off Doncic passes. Overall, the Mavericks were 12-for-17 off Doncic’s pace.
“Tonight was one of those games where things clicked for both of us, and he found me open on the three-point line,” Porzingis said. “It gives us both energy and only builds the momentum for us and the team when we’re going on like that and taking our shots and making the extra pass. It just felt easy and natural. Not every game goes that way. but I believe we are on the right track. ‘
“They’re both excellent attacking players. They’re both very unique. They fit together very well,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “Their games complement each other very well. The chemistry tonight was great. Balls were delivered on time, on target – people stepping into shots in rhythms. It was great to watch.”
Slovenia-born Doncic and Latvia’s Porzingis became the first non-United States-born team-mate to score 35 or more points in a match each. Their 82 combined points are the second most in history by some teammates born outside the 50 states, and the most ever in a regulatory game, according to research by Elias Sports. (Tim Duncan and Tony Parker of the Spurs combined for 85.)
Zion almost perfect
While missing his one shot outside the paint, Williamson goes 14-for-14 in the paint. The only player with more factories who has not missed out on the past 25 seasons is Hakeem Olajuwon in 1998.
“Williamson was ridiculous. I mean, amazing what he can do on a basketball floor,” Carlisle said.
Williamson joins Derrick Rose as the only player aged 20 or younger to have been 10-for-10 or better at halftime over the past 25 seasons. Rose was 10-for-10 in the second half on March 18, 2009 at the Thunder.
Williamson is the youngest player in NBA history with a game of at least 30 points on 90% shooting or better, surpassing Dwight Howard, according to Elias Sports research.
The ugly side
While all the glamorous figures for fans are fun to watch, they decide to give both coaches nightmares while trying to defend their teams. The Pelicans have conceded 50 three-pointers in their last two games, the most allowed by any team in a two-game team in NBA history. (In addition to the 25 that the Mavs made, New Orleans also conceded 25 long balls against the Bulls on Wednesday.)
“We did everything possible tonight. They succeeded against everything,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said. “They hit 3s against everything. We switched. We climbed on a pick-and-roll. We dropped on a pick-and-roll. We played zone. It didn’t matter. Nothing that “We did have no influence on them at all. We play a horrible defense. Our defense is ridiculous.”
“The ESPN crowd got a real surprise tonight in terms of entertainment, but it was a pillow fight against the defense,” Carlisle said.
Materials from ESPN NBA reporters Tim MacMahon and Andrew Lopez and ESPN Stats & Information were used in this report.