Luka Dončić Gets NBA MVP Hype from Fans as Mavs Beat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
zach bacharContributor IFebruary 10, 2024
Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Dončić nearly dropped a triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 146-111 on Saturday afternoon.
Dončić scored 32 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out nine assists against a Thunder team that entered the game with the second-best record in the Western Conference. He shot 9-14 from the floor, connecting on four of his eight attempts from behind the arc.
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBALuka had ’em lost 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/FhNV7i5UM5
Kyrie Irving put up 25 points and eight assists of his own, shooting 57.9 percent in his 33 minutes of action.
Dallas’ trade deadline moves already seem to be paying off, as P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford were both impactful off the bench in their Dallas debuts. Washington put up 14 points and five rebounds on 6-10 shooting, while Gafford racked up 19 points and nine rebounds to go along with a block in just 17 minutes on the floor.
Fans were impressed with Dončić specifically, as the 24-year-old has now scored at least 30 points in 12 of his past 14 appearances.
NBA @NBALuka puts up his 35th 30-point game of the season as the Mavs win their 4th game in a row 🔥💪
32 PTS / 8 REB / 9 AST pic.twitter.com/lJLRNockh3
NBA @NBALUKA MAGIC! Are you kidding?
Thunder-Mavs | Live on NBA TV
📲 https://t.co/rlrlzB87Ie pic.twitter.com/hWXN2Z1L13
BasketballNews.com @basketbllnewsLuka Dončić in today’s win vs. OKC:
🟦32 PTS
🟦9-14 FG
🟦50% 3P
🟦9 AST
🟦8 REB
MVP? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lntl5x4IxQ
K.N.D❤️🔥 @DontSayKxnnyThe Luka MVP campaign begins now
okalandia @okaland1aMvp should be like this:
1. Luka
2. Jokic
3. Steph
StatMuse @statmuseMVP candidate matchup today:
Luka — Shai —
32 PTS 25 PTS
8 REB 6 REB
9 AST 5 AST pic.twitter.com/CDaOZg4XcS
Michael Goldermann @mgoIdermannSGA is a terrific player, but I can’t help but watch this game and feel like Luka is clearly a tier above him
Canyon ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ @CanyonDC4LLUKA IS THE MVP https://t.co/JZDE9rMNKL
BrooksForMVP @Brooks4MVPShai isn’t mvp. He’s good but luka, Jokic even embiid is better
𝕶𝖊r̶r̶𝖔🍼 @KerrocalledgameLuka Doncic & The Mavs Highlights vs Shai & OKC. Real MVP!!!🔥🌟. pic.twitter.com/UDRwIIwAAI
StatMamba @StatMambaLuka Doncic already has more career 30-point games than 98.9% of players in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/V61Kw1A4I3
Basketball Forever @bballforever_Luka Doncic with 32 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast as the Mavericks BLOW OUT #2 seeded Thunder 💪🏽
Luka keeps CLIMBING the MVP ladder 📈 pic.twitter.com/ufAvvwS01b
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored an efficient 25 points, connecting on nine of his 16 field goal attempts. However, he was only able to record five assists compared to three turnovers while the Thunder shot 39 percent from the floor as a team.
The Mavericks have now won four games in a row, currently holding onto the No. 8 seed in the West. If they continue to climb the standings while Dončić maintains his superb play, he’s going to warrant serious MVP consideration.
Kk