You can never count Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić out.
After a relatively slow first two quarters, Dončić exploded in the second half Thursday night to lift the Mavericks to a 114-108 win over Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.
Dončić was held to 12 points in the first half, but his 17-point third quarter helped the Mavs surge to a late lead over the Heat.
He finished the game with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth straight triple-double, tying Russell Westbrook for the longest streak in NBA history.
NBA @NBA
LUKA’S COOKING.
17 PTS in the 3Q, 29 for the game on TNT 💫 pic.twitter.com/itPKU9fOhm
Yahoo Sports @YahooSports
Only players to record five straight 30-point triple doubles:
◾️ Russell Westbrook (2017)
◾️ Luka Doncic (right now) pic.twitter.com/lPfOAZoizg
StatMuse @statmuse
35-point triple-doubles this season:
9 — Luka Doncic
7 — Everyone else combined pic.twitter.com/0ahGhJvUBI
The Mavericks were trailing by four points at the half until Dončić stepped up.
Dončić directly contributed to 28 points as the Mavericks outscored the Heat 37-25 in the third to take the lead.
Kevin Gray Jr. @KevinGraySports
Luka Doncic has put the Mavericks on his back here in the 3rd quarter he’s got 17 points! #MFFL
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Mavs answer the challenge by outscoring Miami 37-25 in the third. Doncic scored 17 in the third and his five assists accounted for 11 more Dallas points. https://t.co/TfOgJNlAsg
Val 🪄 @Val_Hoops
Luka Doncic is still the best player in the world
The Heat pulled ahead again in the fourth quarter, but Dončić made sure the Mavericks earned back the lead by completing his fifth consecutive 30-point triple double.
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT
Luka gets the tough triple to fall 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5S6OM6OgKp
obi @maris_nnadi
Another Luka triple double
When will my people realize that this man is the MVP
Kyrie Irving was also dominant in the fourth quarter. He finished out the Mavericks victory with 23 points.
Zack Squires @Zman2Cor129
Kyrie and Luka make Dallas almost unstoppable if it’s a close game late. We couldn’t do a thing to stop them 🤷🏻♂️
JL @jcl_prproj
This Heat v Mavs game is great. Clutch Kyrie and clutch Luka is actually cinema
Chris G @ChrisreppinXTV
Kyrie + Luka in the playoffs no matter what seed is SCARY
Butler was held to 14 points, five assists and six takeaways in the Heat’s loss.
The Mavericks improve to 35-28 on the season with Thursday night’s win.
The team is back in action Saturday for a road game against the Detroit Pistons as they continue to fight for ground in the Western Conference standings.
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