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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 released a series of dazzling songs.
Doncic had a career-high 46 points and 12 assists, Porzingis had 36 points and eight 3-pointers (both season highs) and Williamson had a career-high 36 points on a 14-of-15 shooting while the Mavericks won 143-130. their fourth consecutive victory.
Add to that Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans, who scored 30, and it was the first time in NBA history that four players 25 or younger each had 30 or more points in a regulation game, according to research from Elias Sports. Doncic and Williamson became the second pair of opponents, each 21 or younger, to both score at least 35 in the same game. Kevin Durant (46 for the Thunder) and Eric Gordon (41 for the Clippers) did it on January 23, 2009, also according to research from Elias Sports.
Doncic dominant
Doncic, who had his career high 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 younger, joining Trae Young, Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan, according to Elias.
“Luka went on a run and hit four or five like tough, fought 3-pointers,” said Williamson. “There’s not really a defensive plan you can do for that. That’s a great player who takes hard shots.”
It was Doncic’s 13th consecutive game with 25 points, the third longest streak by a player 21 or younger in NBA history. Only Durant (29 in 2009-10) and LeBron James (16 in 2006) had longer streaks at the age of 21.
Doncic is the only player in Mavericks history to have 40 points and 10 assists in a game – and he’s done it eight times (seven regular seasons, one playoff).
Dynamic duo
Doncic and Porzingis combined to score or assist on 103 points, and Doncic scored on all eight defenders he faced. Porzingis was 4-for-5 (all 3-pointers) on Doncic passes. Overall, the Mavericks went 12-for-17 on Doncic’s passes.
“Tonight was one of those games where it clicked for both of us, and he finds me open on the 3-point line,” said Porzingis. “It energizes us both and just builds momentum for both of us and the team as we get down to business like this and we take down shots and make that extra pass. It just felt easy and natural. Not every game goes on. but I believe we are on the right track. “
“They are both great attacking players. They are both very unique. They are a great match,” said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. “Their matches complemented each other very well. Tonight’s chemistry was great. Balls were delivered on time, on target – people were kicking to the beat in the shots. It was great to watch.”
Doncic, who was born in Slovenia, and Porzingis, from Latvia, became the first teammates born outside the United States to each score 35 or more points in a match. Their 82 points combined are the second highest in history by a few teammates born outside the 50 states and the most ever in a regulation game, according to research from Elias Sports. (Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 85.)
Zion almost perfect
While he missed his one shot out of the paint, Williamson went 14-for-14 in the paint. The only player with more brands without a miss in a game of the past 25 seasons is Hakeem Olajuwon in 1998.
“Williamson was ridiculous. I mean, unbelievable what he can do on a basketball floor,” Carlisle said.
Williamson joins Derrick Rose as the only players 20 or younger to go 10-for-10 or better in the half of the past 25 seasons in the past 25 seasons. Rose went 10-for-10 in the second half on March 18, 2009 in the Thunder.
Williamson is the youngest player in NBA history to shoot at least 30 points at 90% or better, surpassing Dwight Howard, according to research from Elias Sports.
The ugly side
While all the ostentatious numbers are fun for fans to watch, they want to give both coaches nightmares as they try to coax their teams into some defense. The Pelicans allowed 50 3-pointers in the past two games, the most allowed by any team in a two-game period in NBA history. (In addition to the 25 made by the Mavs, New Orleans also got 25 long balls against the Bulls on Wednesday.)
“We did everything tonight. They scored against everything,” said Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy. “They hit three against everything. We switched. We got on pick and rolls. We dropped on pick and rolls. We played zone. It didn’t matter. Nothing we did had any impact. “On them. We play revolting defense. Our defense is ridiculous.”
“The ESPN audience got a real treat in terms of entertainment tonight, but it was a pillow fight on the defense,” said Carlisle.
This report used material from ESPN NBA reporters Tim MacMahon and Andrew Lopez, and ESPN Stats & Information.