Luka Doncic and the night that eternalized him: the impossible record in the NBA to command a historic comeback

The timer at the American Airlines Center indicated that there were 33.9 seconds left in the fourth period, the last. The New York Knicks defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-103 in the NBA. Little more than half a minute, considerable time in basketball, even more so in the big league. Suddenly, Luka Doncic led an epic comeback with twelve points to force overtime. And in the five extra minutes, the locals did their thing and beat the visit 11-6 on aggregate, to finally win 126-121.

According to the statistics, And the Dallas did it thanks to the 23-year-old Slovenian established the first triple double in league history with a 60/20 record, 60 points (career high), 20 rebounds and 10 assists.

The son of Mirjam Poterbin, a world dance champion, and the Slovenian basketball player Sasha Doncic, Luka grew up with the basketball among his childhood objects. At three months he was already watching his father’s games and at six he began to shoot baskets from midrange and learn tactics on the court. That today he is a star and has been playing for four years and breaking records in the nbaIt’s a family thing. It carries it in the genes.

In this way, Dallas, which inaugurated the statue of its idol Dirk Nowitzki, is left with a record of 19-16 and chains its fourth victory in a row. Thus, it manages to position itself in the sixth position of the Western Conference, which would classify them directly to the playoffs when the season ends.

Doncic becomes eternal

“It’s a miracle”shouted the narrators of the game. “It’s unreal”he tweeted Pau Gasol. “It’s a performance from My Player mode. It looks like a video game”wrote Kevin Durant. “There will be another statue in Dallas, that of Luka Doncic”expressed kevin garnettplaying with the newly released tribute to Dirk Nowitzki. The historic performance of the Slovenian surprised everyone.

“We ran. I thought we had won. They told me no and I was like… ‘Blof’”, explained Doncic by the end. Even his classmates didn’t quite know what to say. “It’s hard to believe. There are no words to describe what he did. The ’77′ is special”Dwight Powell noted.

In the midst of a nearly perfect season, Doncic just did the impossible. In NBA history there were only two men with lines of at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. wilt chamberlain he did it twice (1963 and 1968), and Elgin Baylor, one (1961). They say of one that he was the most dominant player in history, of the other that he was a deadly scorer and ahead of his time. Nobody else. And Luka, with them, although a little higher.

He was in that class. But he has separated to form his own status. His own class”he reflected Jason KiddMavs coach.

comparable performances

Luka Doncic’s magical night surpassed historic NBA performances. He finished 23/37 shooting, 2/6 3-pointers and 21/23 from free throws. “I’m not tired, I just thought about winning the game,” he said after his performance. “I didn’t want to lose so I just kept pushing myself. Talking to myself and asking to go on and on, because I would feel better.”, he confessed. He couldn’t get close to the Slovenian.

More ‘beast’ in scoring than Doncic’s, but less complete in other aspects besides presenting an unrealistic 28/46 at launch. They say about that game that Phil Jackson came to leave ‘the Black Mamba’ on the bench because the “records must remain”.

In the line of 60 points, there are two others that stand out. Karl Malone’s, with 61 points and 18 rebounds -with 21/26 shooting- against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 27, 1990, is very similar to Doncic’s. Interestingly, it happened shortly after losing his well-deserved All-Star citation. Or a very recent one, with James Harden billing a huge triple double with 60+10+11 against the Orlando Magic on January 31, 2018.