Luka Dončić showcased another stellar performance with a triple-double, albeit falling short of his record-breaking streak. Doncic’s 27-point triple-double propelled the Dallas Mavericks to a dominant 127-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Despite not hitting the 30-point mark for the first time in seven games, Doncic’s contribution was undeniable, tallying 14 assists and 12 rebounds. However, he left the game midway through the fourth quarter, concluding his NBA-record streak of 30-point triple-doubles at six.
Coach Jason Kidd emphasized Doncic’s focus on winning over individual statistics, stating, “Numbers, I don’t know if they mean anything to him today. But when he does retire, he’ll look back to see the game that he was playing was at a different level than anybody else.”
In the first quarter, Doncic set the tone as Dallas outscored Chicago by 28 points, establishing a commanding lead early on. While narrowly missing a triple-double in the first half, Doncic’s impact was evident throughout the game, further solidifying his standing as a top-tier player.
Doncic achieved milestones within the Mavericks franchise, surpassing Jason Terry for No. 2 on the team’s all-time 3-pointers made list and overtaking Shawn Bradley for No. 4 on the team’s all-time rebounding list. Since the All-Star break, Doncic has been on a remarkable tear, averaging 36.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.
Meanwhile, former Bulls center Daniel Gafford continued his impressive shooting streak, making all nine of his field goals for Dallas. Gafford has now made 28 consecutive shots, inching closer to the NBA record held by Wilt Chamberlain.
Reflecting on his consistency, Gafford emphasized his mindset of finishing strong regardless of the defensive pressure he faces.
