TORONTO — Luka Doncic showcased an impressive performance with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, achieving his second consecutive triple-double, while Kyrie Irving contributed 29 points, helping the Dallas Mavericks secure a 125-118 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.
This latest triple-double marked Doncic’s 79th career achievement, propelling him past legends Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden to claim the seventh spot on the all-time list for triple-doubles.
The Mavericks, who now boast the longest active winning streak in the NBA at seven games, saw Klay Thompson add 20 points to the tally. Doncic had a notable first half, finishing with 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. His remarkable shooting continued as he drained a stunning 35-foot three-pointer right before halftime, giving Dallas a 70-54 advantage.
Throughout the game, Doncic displayed his playmaking skills, including a no-look, over-the-head assist to Irving for a three-pointer early in the match. He achieved his triple-double milestone with a defensive rebound with just under two minutes left in the third quarter. In their previous encounter against Washington, Doncic recorded 21 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.
On the other side, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes made his mark with 19 points and a personal best of 14 assists. Gradey Dick led the Raptors with 27 points, while Jakob Poeltl added 20 to the scoreboard.
In terms of key moments, Irving was instrumental for the Mavericks, scoring 14 of the team’s final 17 points in the first quarter. For the Raptors, Poeltl made his return after missing a game due to illness, and Kelly Olynyk saw action for the first time this season, scoring 13 points following a back injury that sidelined him for several weeks.
As the game intensified, Toronto managed to cut a once-24-point deficit down to just five points with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter, largely thanks to Dick’s three-pointer. However, the Raptors faced setbacks as reviews of a goaltending call and a defensive foul were ruled against them at crucial moments.
A significant statistic from the match highlighted the impressive shooting of Doncic and Irving, who accounted for 12 out of Dallas’ 17 three-pointers combined—Doncic hitting 6 of 13 attempts and Irving making 6 of 9.
Looking ahead, Toronto will be facing off against New York in their next game on Monday, whereas Dallas will be on the road to challenge the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City in an NBA Cup match on Tuesday.
