Luka Doncic Continues Historic Streak, Makes NBA Triple-Double History in Mavs' Victory Over Pistons
DETROIT — Entering Saturday's game between the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons, Luka Doncic was amid a few historic streaks. He had an active streak of five straight games with a 30-point triple-double, tied with Russell Westbrook for the most in NBA history. His run of four straight 35-point triple-doubles was already a record.
In the Mavs' blowout victory over the Pistons, Doncic racked up 39 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds with 3:17 remaining in regulation, extending both of his historic triple-double streaks. Dallas went on to achieve a 142-124 victory.
“We can’t take that young man for granted,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic. “You’re seeing something as rare as a Picasso. Every night, he does something."
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The Pistons were well aware of the challenge they'd face in this game, with coach Monty Williams emphasizing the difficulty of containing a superstar with Doncic's size, skill, and body control all wrapped into one.
“It’s tough. He’s a big body. Being [with Phoenix] we saw them a lot, and that was the thing I was blown away by, standing on the sideline and being next to a guy like that," Williams said. "I’m not a small dude and he’s almost as big as I am. To be able to move like that, he’s going to draw contact and he’s smart.
"We practice techniques all year to stay out of foul trouble...He’s big, strong and smart," Williams continued. "We’ve talked to our team about moving your feet and just having high hands, so you don’t get into foul trouble.”
There wasn't much the Pistons could do to contain Doncic. He already had 26 points, six assists, and five rebounds at halftime. It was the Slovenian superstar's seventh half of the season recording 25-5-5, while the rest of the NBA only has four combined.
Doncic hit the 30-point threshold shortly after halftime but needed four rebounds and four assists after doing so to hit a triple-double. As the game played out, Doncic dished out his 10th assist in the fourth quarter, but finally got his 10th rebound with 3:16 left in the game, achieving the triple-double.
Following Saturday's game, Doncic is now averaging 34.7 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.0 rebounds in 56 games this season.
