On a thrilling Sunday night, the Dallas Mavericks squared off against the Golden State Warriors in a highly anticipated matchup that was recently added to the NBA calendar. This fixture came in light of the Warriors’ early exit from the NBA Cup, where they bowed out in the quarterfinals to the Houston Rockets. The game took place at the iconic Chase Center, stirring excitement among fans eager to witness the clash of these two teams.
Facing the Mavericks is always a daunting task, especially when Luka Doncic is in the lineup. Last night, the Mavericks’ star guard elevated his game to new heights during the first half, putting on a show that left everyone in awe. Despite the Warriors setting a franchise record by sinking 18 three-pointers in the opening two quarters, it was Doncic who led his team to a narrow 81-74 advantage at halftime, racking up an impressive haul of 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
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This remarkable first-half performance has etched Doncic’s name in the NBA history books. His stat line of 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds marked him as the only player to achieve such numbers in a half since the league began recording these statistics in 1996 (courtesy of Basketball Reference’s StatHead and Mavericks PR). The only other occasion where Doncic reached this milestone during a half was on December 6, 2023, when he posted a stunning triple-double against the Utah Jazz, entering the locker room with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Achieving this feat not once but twice is a testament to Doncic’s extraordinary talent and skill, underscoring his ability to excel under pressure. Heading into this contest, Doncic was already averaging an impressive 28.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season, and he managed to match those figures within just one half against the Warriors.
Meanwhile, as the Mavericks celebrated Doncic’s historic exploits, the spotlight was also on the Warriors, with NBA legend Charles Barkley not holding back in his criticism of the team’s performance. In related news, both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors are reportedly exploring trade possibilities involving a $90 million NBA champion.