Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Dallas Mavericks to a 133-126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, with both players surpassing 40 points in the same game. Doncic finished with 42 points, seven triples, and 12 assists, while Irving contributed 40 points, six triples, and six assists. This made them the first duo in NBA history to achieve at least 40 points and 6 triples each.
Irving’s arrival earlier this year has been hailed as a significant upgrade for the Mavericks, and Doncic spoke highly of his teammate’s contributions. “Playing with him is very easy, he helps me a lot,” said the Slovenian guard, who currently leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 33.4 points per game.
The game also saw high-scoring performances from Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, who finished with 35 points and eight rebounds, and James Harden, who had 27 points and 13 assists. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, who was returning to the starting lineup, also shone with 29 points.
The Mavericks took control in the third quarter and built a 25-point lead, but a 15-0 run by the 76ers threatened to undo their efforts. However, the Mavericks tightened on defense and regained their lead to secure the victory.
In other NBA action on Thursday, the Washington Wizards beat the Toronto Raptors 119-108 in an Eastern Conference matchup, while the San Antonio Spurs notched their second win in a row with a 110-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers.