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SAN ANTONIO — Dallas superstar Luka Doncic scored 51 points in a historic five-game streak, and it was all the Mavericks needed to beat the San Antonio Spurs.
Doncic had two rebounds and two free throws in the final 4.5 seconds to help Dallas reach their sixth straight win in a 126-125 victory over San Antonio on Saturday night.
Doncic scored 50 points for the third time in five games, adding 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in an overtime win over the Knicks. He is the first player in NBA history to record 250 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in his five games.
“Unbelievable,” said Mavericks center Christian Wood. “In my seven years in the league, I’ve never seen anyone doing what he can. He’s running unbelievably. He’s playing like an MVP. I’m one of the players.”
Wood added 25 points in Dallas’ fifth straight win over San Antonio.
Keldon Johnson scored 30 points for Sam Antonio, Jeremy Sochan for 20 points and Jakob Poeltl for 19 points and 15 rebounds.
The Mavericks had to scramble in the final minute after trailing by 17 points.
San Antonio guard Torre Jones was fouled by Dallas forward Davis Bertans after Jones deliberately missed the second of two free throws with the Spurs tied 126-124. Jones then scored the first free throw but missed the second.
Doncic missed two free throws by 1.5 seconds to prevent San Antonio from attempting the game-winning shot.
“It’s not easy to win here,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “But again, Luca was amazing. He bailed us out again by missing the free throws as much as he wanted to finish them.
Jones finished with 18 points.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich jokingly vowed to keep Doncic under 50 points. The Mavericks stars mostly played together.
“No, I just wanted to win,” Doncic said of his 51-point run.
But 51 points was good, right?
“Of course,” Doncic said with a wide smile.
The 6.7-foot forward only had 49 points in the fourth quarter half, but made two free throws in 4.5 seconds to reach 50 points for the fourth time in his career.
Doncic dominated San Antonio with his usual step backs, midrange jumpers, 3-pointers and free throws. He went 28-for-18 from the field.
“I gave him a good effort, both as a team and personally, but he’s a great player,” Popovich said. “His IQ is outrageous. I’m really proud of how we’ve continued, 13, 14, can’t remember.”
Doncic scored 22 points and had one assist in the first quarter.
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