NBA Playoffs 2020: Putting Luka Doncic's Game 4 performance into historical perspective

Gilbert McGregor

NBA Playoffs 2020: Putting Luka Doncic's Game 4 performance into historical perspective image

At just 21, Luka Doncic has cemented himself as a superstar in the NBA for many, many years to come.

MORE: Takeaways from Game 4 | NBA world reacts to Luka

In only the fourth playoff game of his NBA career, Doncic elevated his game to another level finishing with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists on a bad left ankle, capping off his performance with a step-back 3 at the buzzer to deliver a two-point win in overtime.

It's the stuff of legends.

How legendary was his performance? Take a look at some figures to put the elite company he has just joined into perspective.

Stats courtesy of Dallas Mavericks PR, unless otherwise noted.


21 years, 177 days

Having turned 21 in late February, Doncic becomes the youngest player in NBA history to hit a game-winning buzzer beater in the playoffs.

One

Doncic is the first player in NBA history to score 43 or more points, grab 17 or more rebounds and dish out 13 or more assists in a playoff game. It's a stat line that's only been achieved once in a regular season game.

Two

Doncic becomes one of just two players in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double in the postseason before turning 22 years old. The other? A guy by the name of LeBron James.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Doncic is also one of two players to cap a 40-point performance with a buzzer-beater while trailing, joining Michael Jordan as the only other.

Three

Doncic became the third player in NBA playoff history to score at least 40 points, grab at least 15 rebounds and dish out at least 10 assists in a game, joining Oscar Robertson and Charles Barkley.

Nine

Doncic is just the ninth player in NBA history to record consecutive triple-doubles in the postseason. In Game 3, Doncic finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists before exiting with a sprained left ankle.


The Mavericks and Clippers meet for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

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Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.