Mavericks End Skid Via a Luka Doncic Triple-Double

The Dallas Mavericks got back to the winning column thanks to a Luka Doncic triple-double.

The Portland Trail Blazers couldn’t stop the Luka Doncic triple-double freight train on Saturday night. In the Mavericks’ 117-112 home victory over the Blazers, Luka notched his third triple-double of the season, tallying a game-high 42 points while adding 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. The All-Star point guard only hit one of his five tries from three-point land, but he successfully willed himself to the charity stripe. He made 15 of his 18 free throw attempts and had a decent 13-of-22 overall clip from the field.

The Luka Doncic triple-double was a key cog in the win, but the Mavericks also received significant contributions across the roster. Spencer Dinwiddie, Luka’s starting backcourt partner, also had an all-around stat line of 20 points, seven boards, and six assists. Newly-acquired power forward Christian Wood chipped in 19 off the bench, while Tim Hardaway Jr. drilled three triples on his way to 16 points.

This triple-double is the 49th for Luka, and he’s just in his fifth season with the Mavericks. It is also his third this season after accumulating back-to-back triple-double stat lines against the Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Through 12 games, Luka is logging 36.9 minutes and putting up stellar averages of 34.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per contest.

Luka, the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is a surefire MVP candidate this season. But of course, he wants a championship for the Mavericks and he has a strong supporting cast around him. Dallas holds a record of seven wins against five defeats, as they sit on the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings.