PORTLAND – As he does so often, Luka Dončić took his game to another level on Saturday night against
the Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite defenders hanging all over him throughout, Dončić finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in registering his eighth career 40-point triple-double. That’s one more than Wilt Chamberlain achieved during his illustrious Hall Of Fame career.
It was another game where Dončić displayed his superpowers and showed precisely why he should always be at the top of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player list. There’s no ifs, ands or butts about it, according to teammate Markieff Morris.
“I don’t see why he’s not No. 1 in the running for MVP,” Morris said. “I just don’t get it, because he’s carrying our team in scoring, rebounding and 
assists on a nightly basis.
“I played with some great players, but when I tell you the game is just so easy to him. I’ve never seen nobody damn near walk through the game. He plays the same way in practice. It’s just his skill.”
Dončić’s high efficiency skill set is one of the best in the NBA. He befuddles defenses, has coaches scratching their head trying to devise a scheme to contain him, and he’s just a nightmare to try and cover.
In Saturday’s 131-120 win over the Blazers, Dončić has now scored 30 or more points in a Mavs franchise record 10 straight games. And the 30 points he tallied in the first half was the ninth time in his career that he’s poured in at least 30 points in one half.
Also, this marked the 79th time where Dončić has tossed in 35 or more points in a game. He’s the Mavs’ all-time leader in that department and has one more than the great Dirk Nowitzki.
“When you talk about someone who past Dirk for the most 35-point games, Dirk played for 100 years and Luka has played for six,” coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s how good (Dončić) is. And then you talk about passing Wilt for the most 40-point triple-doubles. That’s special.
“I’ve said this from Day One — and will continue — is that we can’t take him for granted. He’s special.”
That special game by Dončić helped the Mavs improve to 9-4 on the road this season. That’s the best road record in the NBA.
Here are the three takeaways from the 11-point victory over the Blazers.
MORRIS WAS A FACTOR: Markieff Morris doesn’t play a lot of games, but he got into Saturday’s matchup and made a considerable contribution. In 20 minutes – one shy of his season high – Morris scored a season-high 10 points on 4-of-9 shots. He also posted season highs in both rebounds (five) and assists (four) while stepping in after rookie center Dereck Lively II left the game for good in the first quarter when he suffered a sprained left ankle.
HARDAWAY BOUNCED BACK: The Mavs knew that so-so game Tim Hardaway Jr. had Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves wouldn’t linger. And sure enough, one game after scoring just 10 points while misfiring on all seven of his three-pointers against the Timberwolves, Hardaway tallied 25 points on 5-of-15 shots from three-point land against Portland.
JONES CLOSED THE DEAL: Not only did Derrick Jones Jr. score 18 points on 6-of-11 field goal attempts against the Blazers. But he also produced the dunk which gave the Mavs a 129-120 lead and sealed the victory with 58.2 seconds remaining. The dunk came on a lob pass near the top of the key from Morris.
X: @DwainPrice
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