Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic Make History With 40-Point Outings in Mavs’ Win Over the Sixers

• Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic led the Mavs to a seven-point win over the Sixers
• They each scored at least 40 points, becoming the first Mavs pair to achieve that feat
• Dallas nearly collapsed again in the fourth quarter

The Dallas Mavericks finally found the winning formula.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving delivered spectacular performances on Thursday night, leading the Mavs to a 133-126 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The All-Star duo combined for 82 points to help the Mavs snap their two-game losing streak.

Doncic led the Mavs, registering a double-double with 42 points and 12 assists. Irving also had a monster game offensively, adding 40 points and six assists.

Doncic and Irving make history

Milwaukee Bucks edge past Phoenix Suns to extend win streak to 14 games

NBA

It was the first time in the history of the franchise that a pair of Mavs players scored at least 40 points each in a single game, per ESPN.

Dallas needed this win badly as Irving and Doncic had won just once in the previous five games that they have played together.

Thursday’s game showed this experiment might still work and that a deep playoff run is still possible for the two superstars. Dallas’ win coupled with the Clippers’ loss meant that the Mavs are back in sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

Luka developing chemistry with Kyrie

Doncic made it a point to involve Irving in the offense against the Sixers. Eight of the Slovenian’s 12 assists were to Kyrie, including his first six dimes. In their previous five games together, Doncic made just three assists to Irving.

Irving benefited from the Mavs changing their game plan. He shot 15 of 22 from the field, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc. Doncic also started strongly, scoring 25 points in the first half, including 17 in the opening quarter.

Nikola Jokic notches another triple-double in Nuggets’ win over Clippers

NBA

Mavs nearly squander big lead

No lead is safe with these Mavs, though. They squandered a 27-point lead in their loss to the Lakers days ago and nearly collapsed again against the Sixers. Their 25-point advantage was reduced to just four points in the fourth quarter, forcing Kidd to put Doncic back in the game.

The Mavs managed to hold on and hand the Sixers their third loss in the last four games.

Doncic the scoring machine

Sports Brief recently reported on the highest-scoring games of Doncic.

He scored a career-high 60 points against the New York Knicks in a 126-121 overtime win late last year.

He became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point and 20-rebound triple-double.