Doncic: ‘Tough shots – the bull**** shots – when you make them, are so fun’

“Luka Magic” has been on full display all season, and it was on full display Friday night against the Raptors.

Luka Doncic had 35 points (10-15 FG, 12-14 FT), eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals as the Mavs defeated the Raptors 111-110 at American Airlines Center to get their third straight win.

The three-time All-Star has joined Wilt Chamberlain (first eight games in 1959-60, and first 23 games in 1962-63) as the only players in the history of the NBA to score 30-plus points in eight-or-more consecutive games to begin a season. 

“Yeah, he did a lot of things,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said. “He did one of those spin moves in front of me when he split the double team, which was really kinda cool. Knowing that he surprises a lot of people, I wonder if he surprises himself sometimes with that spin move right in front of me. That was cool, but the one where he went through his legs eight times, he was doing his dance. He has that song that he plays, and when he shot that little floater, I just kinda chuckled because only he can do that. Thirty-five points tonight, efficient.

“I know he probably wants that free throw back when he missed to seal the game. He did everything tonight.”

Dončic, who upheld his league-leading scoring average at 36.0 points per game, had some great moves in this one, including putting Toronto’s Precious Achiuwa in a blender.

Take a look:

MINHA NOSSA SENHORA

OLHEM O QUE O LUKA DONCIC FEZ

ISSO NÃO EXISTE
pic.twitter.com/GbMQQupo6p

— NBA do Povo 🏀🇧🇷 (@NBAdoPovo) November 5, 2022

“I think I made too many moves,” Doncic said on the play. “I think I had him beat the first time, but then the ball escaped a little bit. I don’t know what I did there, but it was a hard shot. I don’t know how I made it. I thought it was short, but it just went in…

“It is just fun, man. Those plays are fun. Later, when you see it on TV, everybody talks about it, but it is just fun. Tough shots – the bullshit shots – when you make them, are so fun.”

Spencer Dinwiddie had 21 points and seven assists; according to him, Doncic is a ‘savant.’

“I mean, I used ‘savant’ last time to describe him, and he is in every sense of the word,” Dinwiddie said. “Obviously tonight, 10-of-15 great shooting percentage, 3-of-6 , 12-of-14 from the line, 35 points and 6 assists, and obviously made them go to a box in one at different times of the game, and that’s the ultimate sign of respect for sure. Which he obviously has earned, now scoring 30 points in our first eight games. Phenomenal.”

Doncic is balling right now and playing at a high level, and Mavs and the NBA are reaping the rewards.