Luka Doncic’s record streak came to an end but he still played a pivotal role as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 127-92.
The Slovenian couldn’t manage a seventh game with a 30-point triple-double – his NBA record ending at six – but he still contributed 27 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in another masterful display.
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“It’s about winning to him,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Numbers, I don’t know if they really mean anything to him today.
“But when he does retire, he’ll look back to see the game that he was playing was at a different level than anybody else.”
Although one record came to an end, another remains firmly on track with the Mavs’ Daniel Gafford extending his run of made shots to 28 – seven shy of the NBA mark set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967.
“My philosophy for sure is just being consistent, having a mindset of just going to finish everything no matter if there’s somebody in front of you or if there isn’t somebody in front of you,” Gafford said.
“At the end of the day, either dunking it or putting it in the rim.”
The Landlord doesn’t miss
Gafford finished with 20 points, his highest scoring game as a Mav.#MFFL pic.twitter.com/jEZ5XTzoHU
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 12, 2024
The defeat was the Bulls’ worst of the season and left coach Billy Donovan questioning their approach.
“We gave up a lot of rolls to the basket and offensive rebounds,” he said.
”We’ve got to be more pulled in than we were. We kind of were too worried with getting back out to that 3-point line instead of saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to take away the roll.'”
