DALLAS — Luka Doncic scored 28 of his career-high 51 points in the first quarter, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-105 on Thursday night.
The 22-year-old star’s 3-point frenzy, part of the highest-scoring quarter in the NBA this season, came a few hours after the Mavericks traded Kristaps Porzingis to Washington. The European pairing of Doncic and Porzingis never developed quite like the club wanted in two-plus seasons.
Despite Doncic hitting seven of his first nine 3s in the highest-scoring quarter of his career, regular season or playoffs, the Clippers were as close as two points in the fourth quarter. But that just set up Doncic for his first 50-point game.
Luka Dončić finished the first quarter of tonight’s game with 28 points on 10-13 shooting, including 7-10 from deep.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 11, 2022
Per @Stathead, Dončić is only the 13th player since 1996-97 to record 18+ points in a quarter and the first since James Harden in November 2019. pic.twitter.com/5uJr3Xu7Y7
LA stayed in the game with more balanced scoring, led by Marcus Morris Sr. with 21 points. Norman Powell had 19 and Reggie Jackson 18 in the first of consecutive meetings in Dallas. The rematch is Saturday.
The Dallas lead was five when Doncic returned for the final time with 8 minutes remaining, and the Mavericks built back their cushion after a flagrant foul call they didn’t like against Maxi Kleber gave the Clippers a chance to tie.
Amir Coffey made both free throws to get LA within three, but a steal by Doncic led to Jalen Brunson’s alley-oop pass to Dorian Finney-Smith for a layup. After an airball 3 from Nicolas Batum, Doncic assisted on Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer for a 102-94 lead.
Doncic finished 17 of 26 from the field and 7 of 14 from 3, with the only hint of a struggle coming on free throws. He would have had a 30-point first quarter if he hadn’t missed three of four from the line, but got hot there too and made 10 of 14 from the stripe.
Because of all the scoring, Doncic’s career-best streak of seven games with at least 10 assists ended. The three-time All-Star had six assists and nine rebounds.
After Doncic’s seventh 3 of the first quarter went in, many in the crowd rose and stayed on their feet when Dallas went to the defensive end. Then fans cheered loudly when play stopped and a smiling Doncic walked toward the bench.
Fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” as Doncic waited for the free throw that put him at 50 for the first time. He made the second for a 110-103 lead with 40 seconds remaining.
Seven of Doncic’s 11 highest-scoring games - all at least 42 points - have come against the Clippers, most of those in first-round playoff series won by LA the past two seasons.