CNN
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Luka Dončić scored a historic triple-double in the Dallas Mavericks’ thrilling 126-121 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old recorded a career-high 60 points and a career-high 21 rebounds to go with 10 assists, helping the Mavericks go nine points with just 33 seconds left in regulation time.
This is the first time in NBA history that a player has reached this stat line.
“I’m extremely tired,” Dončić said after the game. “I need a recovery beer.”
Over the past 20 seasons, all 13,884 NBA teams that have trailed by at least nine points with 35 seconds or less remaining have lost the game, according to ESPN.
However, in a dramatic final game, Dončić intentionally missed a free throw, then got the rebound, before scoring the backhand to tie the game and force overtime.
The Slovenian star scored 10 points in the final minute of regulation time and added seven more in overtime to claim the most unlikely of wins.
Dončić also joins James Harden as the only other player in NBA history to score a 60-point triple-double, and also becomes the sixth player to record six triple-doubles or more than 40 points after Oscar Robertson, Harden, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.
“We just saw it on screen right now,” Dončić said of his goalscoring feat. “We were watching NBA TV. I mean, it’s just amazing to be in these comparisons and just to be with these guys, anytime. It’s amazing to me.
Dončić’s 60 points also set a new franchise record for Dallas, surpassing the 53 points scored by Dirk Nowitzki against Houston in 2004.
“Just with age, he’s got a birthday coming here in the new year, I think he’s seen it all at 23,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Dončić becoming a leader. “But his competitiveness to win is at a very high level – and you saw that tonight.
“Things weren’t going well. Give the Knicks credit, they were doing a lot of threes that we didn’t think were possible. They were playing louder. We were down 10. We were in that position earlier in the season when you talk about giving up a lead or giving up a game like this.
“Just to be able to stick together and trust, Luka was a big part of that. He was never discouraged that the game was over. As you can see he picks up the whole pitch, we had a big jump ball There are a lot of things we learned from our losses in close games like this.
The Mavericks improve to 19-16 this season and climb to sixth in the Western Conference, while the Knicks have now lost four straight to sixth in the East.
