NBA: 73 points for a historic Doncic, Booker catches fire in vain, Wembanama and the Spurs convincing

A moment of history. Four days after Joel Embiid's 70 points with Philadelphia, Luka Doncic scored 73 points in Dallas' 148-143 victory against Atlanta, the team that traded the Slovenian on the evening of the 2018 Draft. record in the history of the Texas franchise and it is the fourth best performance in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain (100 points in 1962 and 78 in 1961) and Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006) did better. Chamberlain and David Thompson are the only other players to reach this total of 73 points. A card which allowed the Mavs to end a series of three consecutive losses. Fourth defeat in a row for Trae Young's Hawks (30 pts). Doncic had already scored 41 points by halftime, including 23 in the second quarter. Monstrous!

With a decisive tap 3''4 seconds from the end, Obi Toppin (23 pts, 11 rebounds) completed Indiana's comeback against Phoenix (133-131), while the Suns led by 17 points. Devin Booker, however, scored 62 points. This is only the fifth time in NBA history, and the second in a week, that we have seen two players score 60 points or more in the same evening! Author of a first quarter with 29 points, Booker had the match point to offer an eighth consecutive victory to the Suns, in vain. 31 points for newcomer Pascal Siakam, while Tyrese Haliburton was missing again. Everything is going well for the Indiana Pacers!

In the rest of the highlights of the night, we will remember that Oklahoma City made short work of New Orleans (107-83) – without Zion Williamson – on the road with 31 points from All Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A victory which allows the Thunder to return to the level of Minnesota in the lead in the West. Donovan Mitchell (32 pts) and the Cavs inflicted another defeat on the Bucks (100-112). Doc Rivers, officially named head of Milwaukee, has work to do. With 79 points from the Harden/Westbrook/George/Leonard quartet, the Clippers crushed Toronto (107-127). Note James Harden's triple-double, 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, his 75th in the NBA but the first with Los Angeles. Saturday's clash against Boston promises to be hot... Jaren Jackson Jr. (30 pts) and the Grizzlies won against the Magic (107-106) of Paulo Banchero (27 pts). Joe Ingles had the three-point match point… in vain.

Last but not least, San Antonio won its ninth victory of the season at the expense of Portland (116-100), at the Frost Bank Center. The Blazers started well, leading 26-33 at the end of the first quarter, but the Spurs dominated the rest of the game. Logical success for Gregg Popovich's players, who were up to 18 lengths ahead. Easy. New double-double for Victor Wembanyama, to be credited with 23 points and 12 rebounds despite a suspect skill (7/18) and seven turnovers. Its impact was nonetheless significant. 31 points for the excellent Jeremy Sochan, with 14 rebounds as a bonus. 21 points and 14 rebounds also for Keldon Johnson coming off the bench. Decisive. Note the 40 points of Anfernee Simons for the Oregon club, returning to 10 in the last minutes to give a little hope. Third choice in the 2023 Draft, Scoot Henderson (6 mins) did not exist, he who imagined himself as number 1 ahead of “Wemby”.

Despite this deserved and convincing success against an opponent within its reach, San Antonio (9v-36d) remains last in the Western Conference standings, four lengths behind… Portland (13v-32d). The Spurs still have five games in a row at home (Minnesota, Washington, Orlando, New Orleans, Cleveland) before starting their traditional Rodeo Road Trip.