NBA: Luka Doncic makes history with sensational first-half triple-double as Dallas Mavericks hammer Utah Jazz

ByRob Hemingway

Published 07/12/2023 at 11:32 GMT

Luka Doncic is still only 24, but he is now already ahead of NBA legend Larry Bird in the all-time list of career triple-doubles in the NBA. The Slovenian's 40 points took his side to a big win over the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, Steph Curry was on hand to get the Warriors over the line against the Trail Blazers, and Joel Embiid racked up a half-century of points as the 76ers ousted the Wizards.

Luka Doncic became the first man to ever hit a 25-point triple-double before half-time in the NBA as he starred in the Dallas Mavericks' big win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

On a remarkable night at the American Airlines Center, Doncic also went past Larry Bird on the all-time list of triple-doubles, into ninth.

The Mavs were rampant for much of the evening against their opponents, eventually sealing a huge 147-97 victory.

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"That's pretty amazing," Doncic, 24, said afterwards when informed he had surpassed Bird.

"I don't know what to say, honestly. But we all know who Larry Bird was, so it's pretty special."

Doncic was once again in sync with young team-mate Dereck Lively II, who was a key cog in the performance that dismantled the Jazz.

"He has a great potential," Doncic said of the 19-year-old. "He already is a great player.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks high-fives Dereck Lively II #2 after scoring a three-point basket during the first half against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center on December 06, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

Image credit: Getty Images

"Now you see they're really a little bit afraid of him, so they put a smaller guy on him, so we don't play pick and roll, me and him. But we managed that well."

It was an altogether closer battle at the Chase Center as the Golden State Warriors took on the Portland Trail Blazers.

But Steph Curry, as he has so often done throughout his career, sunk a clutch three-pointer with just seconds remaining to take his side out of touching distance from their opponents, sealing an eventual 110-106 triumph that owed much to a second-half turnaround.

That was part of a 31-point haul from the 35-year-old Curry, who afterwards praised Jonathan Kuminga as he emerged from the bench to help drive his team to the win.

"It's huge [what he did]," Curry said.

"Everyone in our locker room is challenged to stay engaged, approach it the right way - doesn't mean you have to be happy with it, you have to 'accept' it.

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"For him the challenge was not playing in the first half, and being out of the rotation for the second. His preparation for when the opportunity came, that's the difference in the win for us tonight.

"If he didn't do what he did and stay ready, show maturity with that, we lose this game, so that was huge."

Elsewhere on Wednesday night, there was a 50-point haul for Joel Embiid as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards, while Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs went down 102-94 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Wednesday night's NBA results

• Cavaliers 121-111 Magic
• Wizards 126-131 76ers
• Pistons 102-116 Grizzlies
• Timberwolves 102-94 Spurs
• Hawks 113-114 Nets
• Raptors 103-112 Heat
• Bulls 111-100 Hornets
• Rockets 110-101 Thunder
• Mavericks 147-97 Jazz
• Clippers 111-102 Nuggets
• Warriors 110-106 Trail Blazers

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