-
Steve RichardsESPN
Three of the NBA’s brightest young stars put on a show on Friday night, while 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 46 career points and 12 assists, Porzingis had 36 points and eight 3-pointers (both highs this season), and Williamson had 36 career points at 14-of-15, when the Mavericks won. 143-130, their fourth consecutive victory.
Add Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram, who scored 30 and was the first in NBA history when four players age 25 or younger each had 30 or more points in a regulation game, according to Elias Sports research. Doncic and Williamson became the second pair of opposing players, each at least 21 years old, who both scored at least 35 in the same game. Kevin Durant (46 for Thunder) and Eric Gordon (41 for Clippers) did so on January 23, 2009, according to Elias Sports.
So dominant
Doncic, who tied his career with 42 points last Saturday in a high-scoring showdown with Steph Curry, became the fourth player with 45 points and 10 assists in a game at the age of 21 or older. little, joining Trae Young, Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan, according to Elias.
“Luka got into a run in which he hit four or five, like, tough, played with 3 points,” Williamson said. “There’s no defensive scheme you can do for that. He’s a great player who hits hard.”
It was the 13th consecutive 25-point game for Doncic, the third-longest series by a player aged 21 or under in NBA history. Only Durant (29 in 2009-10) and LeBron James (16 in 2006) had longer marks at the age of 21.
Doncic is the only player in Mavericks history with 40 points and 10 assists in a game – and he has done so eight times (seven regular seasons, one playoff).
Dynamic duo
Doncic and Porzingis combined to score or assist with 103 points, and Doncic scored all eight defenders with half the field he faced. Porzingis was 4 for 5 (all with 3 points) outside the Doncic passes. Overall, the Mavericks were 12-for-17 off Doncic passes.
“Tonight was one of those games where I clicked for both of them and he finds me open on the 3-point line,” Porzingis said. “It gives us both energy and creates the momentum for both us and the team when we go like this and knock down shots and make that extra pass. It felt easy and natural. Not every game is going to be like this, but I think we’re on the right track. Hi “.
“They’re both great offensive players. They’re both very unique. They fit extremely well,” said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. “Their games complement each other very well. The chemistry tonight was amazing. The balls were delivered on time, on target – people stepping into photos in rhythm. It was a wonderful thing to watch.”
Doncic, who was born in Slovenia, and Porzingis, from Latvia, became the first teammates born outside the United States to score 35 or more points in a game. Their 82 combined points are the second highest in the history of a pair of teammates born outside the 50 states and most in a regulatory game, according to Elias Sports research. (Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 85.)
Zion almost perfect
While missing a single shot out of the paint, Williamson went 14-for-14 in the paint. The only player with several marks without error in a game in the last 25 seasons is Hakeem Olajuwon in 1998.
“Williamson was ridiculous. I mean, incredible what he can do on a basketball court,” Carlisle said.
Williamson joins Derrick Rose as the only players at least 20 years old who have gone 10-10 or better in a half in the last 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 at 90% or better, surpassing Dwight Howard, according to Elias Sports research.
The ugly part
While all the naughty numbers are fun for fans to watch, they are thinking of giving both coaches nightmares while trying to convince some defense from their teams. The Pelicans have allowed 50 triples in the last two games, the most allowed by any team in a two-game span of NBA history. (In addition to the 25 made by the Mavs, New Orleans gave up 25 long balls against the Bulls on Wednesday.)
“We did everything possible tonight. They scored against everyone,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said. “They hit 3s against everyone. We changed. We got on the pick-and-rolls. We fell on the pick-and-rolls. We played the area. It didn’t matter. Nothing we did. it had no impact on them. We are playing an ugly defense. Our defense is ridiculous. “
“The ESPN crowd got a real treat tonight in terms of entertainment, but it was a pillow fight in defense,” Carlisle said.
Material from NBA ESPN reporters Tim MacMahon and Andrew Lopez, as well as ESPN statistics and information were used in this report.