THE Houston Rockets entered their March 31 match against the The Dallas Mavericks The Red Sox were in top form, winning 11 straight and having completely turned their season around, going from nine games under .500 to two games over. Although they were essentially out of the playoff race, they were fighting for a chance at a play-in spot, and the momentum they had built over the past month was palpable.
It didn’t matter, though, as the Mavericks were very efficient from three-point range, making 24 baskets in the game. As the Rockets changed screens, Luka Doncic chased away incompatibilities, attacking players like Jalen Green And Fred Van Vleet. He also scored against a better defender, like Amen Thompson, came out of isolation and terrorized the Houston defense in transition.
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Doncic’s first quarter was nothing short of spectacular, as he showed off his full offensive repertoire by scoring 22 points and displaying some dazzling passes. In one such instance, he drove the lane out of a high pick-and-roll, and as he was leaving the floor to attempt a shot, he hit a jump pass to the weak side where Dante Exum was open for a shot from beyond the arc, which he made.
Doncic was a prodigy in the game, shooting 18-of-30 from the field, averaging 1.306 points per possession and 47 points overall, a 75 percent shooting percentage. He also had 12 rebounds and seven assists, but he wasn’t the only Maverick who had a hot hand against the Rockets. Kyrie Irving He also had a solid night, scoring 24 points and matching Doncic’s assist total. He had just one turnover compared to his seven assists, and while he wasn’t as efficient as Doncic, he still shot 60.4 percent true and scored 1.220 points per possession.
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Doncic’s gravity helped create enough space for everyone to get involved on offense, as four Mavericks scored in double figures. PJ Washington Exum scored 12 points and made three of his five three-point attempts, while Exum made another 13 as a backup. One of the most impressive shots was an underhanded three-point attempt to beat the shot clock in the third quarter, which can be seen below.
This performance stood out from Doncic’s other big performances in that his efficiency was top-notch: He made nine of 16 shots from beyond the arc, most of which were step-back attempts after isolations or high pick-and-rolls. His 47 shots were the most in the game, 19 more than the next closest player. Jabari Smith Jr. who was 28 years old.
This game was a prime illustration of the unenviable position Doncic leaves defenses in. They must choose between setting screens and letting him pick apart the defense with his passes or letting him work in isolation against an overwhelmed defender.
It’s the ninth-highest scoring game of his career and his second-highest point total against the Rockets, behind only his 50-point outburst against Houston in December 2022. Hopefully he can replicate that kind of performance throughout the year, which will have to happen if the Mavericks want to continue competing for championships.
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