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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. But for the franchise’s star player, Luka Doncic, it was a night of legends. To ‘triple’ the happiness of being a girl-dad, Doncic tied with NBA legend, Larry Bird, for the number of triple-doubles.

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The Slovenian star guard tied Bird by getting the 59th triple-double of his career. With this win, Luka becomes the only player to have multiple games of 35 plus points, 15 plus rebounds, and 15 plus assists.

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Luka Doncic ties 59th triple-double with Larry Bird

The Mavs superstar racked up incredible stats aside from the obvious. Along with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 18 assists, the 4x All-Star made 11 of 22 field goals and nine of 14 free throws. All the while shooting 5-13 from the deep.

For Doncic to move up on the list, he will have to beat James “The Beard” Harden. Harden boasts 74 triple-doubles in his career. 15 TDS more to go and Doncic can shake hands with the veteran. Knowing the kind of “unique” skills possessed by Doncic, this shouldn’t be too big of a hurdle.

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Despite such massive numbers, the Mavs couldn’t outscore the OKC, as they fell with 126-120.

Rookie teenager makes NBA history

Doncic wasn’t the only player who had a historic night against the Thunder. Rookie big man, Dereck Lively II put up remarkable numbers on his stat sheet. And create first of its kind history in the league. Lively became the first NBA player to tally 20 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks on 100% shooting as a teenager.

Read More: Joel Embiid in Utter Disbelief as Luka Doncic and Co Stage Unbelievable Comeback vs Thunder

Underhanded in the absence of Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Tim Hardaway Jr., the ‘Lone Star State’ broke another NBA record. With four minutes left, they landed a 30-0 run to take a 117-117 lead. Unfortunately, the back-to-back had depleted their juice.

Of course, Lively still has a long way to go. But with elite level players on his team to guide him, he is on his way to early greatness.

Watch This Story: With Luka Doncic and Wife Jessica Olsson in Stands, Dirk Nowitzki Takes on Ex-teammate in an Entirely Different Set-Up

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Geisha Pulimoottil Don

1,727 Articles

Geisha P. Don is an NBA Editor at EssentiallySports, where she manages a team of five reporters. A literature graduate, she brings a writer's empathy to her coverage, delving into the human side of athletes' lives. In her two years with the organization, she has handled high-stakes coverage of major events, including the 2024 NBA Finals and the Paris Olympics. Her distinct editorial voice combines on-court action with a keen focus on off-court culture, from player fashion and trade season drama to the personal stories that surround the game. Geisha believes athletes are more than just players, and her coverage of figures like Savannah James and Ayesha Curry reflects her broader appreciation for the NBA’s entire ecosystem. She is also an experienced journalist in live-event coverage and play-by-play commentary through Live Blogs. A devoted Golden State Warriors fan, Geisha's interests extend beyond basketball to crime thrillers and K-dramas.

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