Luka Dončić’s 45-Point Triple-Double Leads Mavericks Past Warriors in Record-Breaking Shootout: “No Team Could Miss Tonight”
Luka Dončić delivered a masterpiece Sunday night, recording a season-high 45 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds to propel the Dallas Mavericks past the Golden State Warriors 143-133 in a dazzling display of offensive firepower. The game, a makeup contest after both teams were eliminated from the NBA Cup, set a new league record with 48 combined three-pointers.
“No team could miss tonight,” Dončić said. “They had 18 threes at halftime, and we were still up, which is insane. It felt like nobody could miss. A lot of makes, but it was a physical game, too.”
The Mavericks improved to 17-9 with their seventh win in eight games, while the Warriors dropped to 14-11 despite a franchise-record 27 three-pointers. Dallas solidified its fourth-ranked placement in the Western Conference standings, while Golden State slid to eighth.
“Luka was incredible,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “I think they made their first nine shots. He made three of them and had three more assists. He was incredible. Give him credit; give Dallas credit. They’ve got a hell of a team… They’re as difficult to guard as anybody.”
Klay Thompson, playing his second game back at Chase Center since joining Dallas, delivered a season-high 29 points and seven three-pointers, sealing the win with clutch baskets and free throws late in the fourth quarter.
“This one was special,” Thompson said. “I’ve spent so many days in this building. Coming back here, it’s hard emotionally, but I just try to tap into all the incredible memories. To see the number 11 jerseys and the young fans—it really makes me proud of what I was able to do here.”
Luka Dončić and Dallas Mavericks Set the Tone Early
The Mavericks came out firing, posting 46 points in the first quarter, their highest-scoring opening frame of the season. Dončić was unstoppable from the outset, drilling six of his first six shots, including two three-pointers, while dishing out five assists and grabbing four rebounds in the opening minutes. His first dunk of the season—a give-and-go play with Kyrie Irving—highlighted his early dominance.
“The pace he played with tonight was something we needed,” Kidd said of Dončić. “He took care of the ball, got everyone involved, accepted the double teams, and found the right guy. He was making his shots early, and that set the tone for us. He was a big reason why we won.”
Irving added 21 points, eight assists, and three rebounds. He consistently attacked off the dribble and created opportunities for his teammates. He was a key secondary option, scoring in critical moments and complementing Dončić’s playmaking.
In his second game back at Chase Center as a Maverick, Thompson scored 29 points, including seven made threes. He hit key shots in the first half and down the stretch, delivering his best game against his former team.
“Klay played great,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “Down the stretch, he also got us off to a good start. He made big shots and showed his composure in a tough environment.”
Between Dončić, Thompson, and Irving, the trio combined for 98 points and scored or assisted 122 of the team’s 143 points. However, the Mavericks received plenty of impact throughout the rotation in addition to their perimeter stars.
Quentin Grimes came off the bench to contribute 14 points, including two three-pointers in the first quarter during an eight-point stretch that helped Dallas build a 46-33 lead after one. In his return from a one-game absence caused by illness, P.J. Washington added 13 points, hitting timely shots in transition and providing spacing for Dallas’ perimeter attack.
Dereck Lively II was a force on the boards and in the paint, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds. He set strong screens to free up shooters and challenged shots at the rim, giving Dallas a steady presence inside.
“They scored the first nine (points) in 11 possessions,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “You set that tone against a great team, and you’re going to have a hard time catching up.”
Golden State Warriors Use Three-Point Barrage
Golden State responded with a historic shooting display in the second quarter. The Warriors made 11 threes in the period, setting a franchise record with 18 first-half threes. Andrew Wiggins led the charge, scoring 18 of his team-high 29 points in the first half. Wiggins finished the game 5-of-9 from deep, mixing outside shooting with decisive drives to the basket.
Jonathan Kuminga added 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, providing energy and athleticism off the bench. Draymond Green was equally impactful, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and five made threes—his best shooting performance of the season.
Stephen Curry orchestrated the offense with 26 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, hitting deep pull-up threes and finding open teammates during Golden State’s second-quarter push.
“The issue was Luka Dončić,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “I think they made their first nine shots. He made three of them and had three more assists. He was incredible. Give him credit; give Dallas credit. They’ve got a hell of a team… They’re as difficult to guard as anybody.”
Despite Golden State’s firepower, Dallas maintained an 81-74 lead at halftime, with Dončić tallying 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. The Mavericks’ own three-point shooting—12 made threes in the first half—helped them keep control of the game.
“Thankfully, Luka had a historic-type night, and that shows we can outscore anybody,” Thompson said. “But at the same time, we’ve got to own it on defense a little better because if we want to do what we want to do, it’s very important that we don’t let the opponent shoot that well from the field.”
Both Teams Combine for a Three-Point Clinic
The second quarter turned into a historic shootout. Golden State drained 11 three-pointers in the period alone, pulling within striking distance behind Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Jonathan Kuminga. By halftime, the Warriors had connected on 18 threes, a franchise record, trimming Dallas’ lead to 81-74.
“Those big guys are tough to deal with,” Kerr said, highlighting Dallas’ size advantage. “Both Lively and Gafford, they take up a lot of space. Then the other guys are coming in to rebound, like Luka, who had 11, I think. They’ve got a lot of size and put a lot of pressure on you.”
Dončić continued to dictate the Mavericks’ offense, finishing the half with 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. His performance marked the first time in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) that a player had produced such a stat line in one half.
“It means we’ve got to guard better,” Dončić said. “Our offense has a lot of weapons, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to rebound the ball, and when we rebound the ball, we’re a very dangerous team.”
Golden State carried its momentum into the second half. Curry hit a pull-up three to open the third quarter, and Wiggins added two quick buckets to pull the Warriors within six points. Their defensive adjustments, including blitzing Dončić in pick-and-roll situations, disrupted Dallas briefly.
But Dončić adapted, finding Thompson for two key threes to halt Golden State’s run. The Slovenian superstar also hit a step-back three over Kuminga that silenced the crowd, part of his six made threes on the night.
Thompson’s shooting was crucial in the third quarter, as he made timely plays against his former team. His seven made threes tied his season high, and his ability to stretch the floor opened up driving lanes for Dončić and Irving.
“I’m really proud of our guys; they continue to fight night in and night out,” Kerr said. “We’ve lost eight out of 10, and there’s zero quit. There’s some disappointment, but there’s zero quit. We’re going to climb out of this because of the character and competitiveness of our guys.”
Dallas maintained a 114-107 lead entering the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Dallas Mavericks Use Clutch Performance to Secure the Win
Golden State made one final push in the fourth. Kuminga’s alley-oop dunk cut the Mavericks’ lead to three, and Curry followed with an and-one layup that brought the Chase Center crowd to its feet.
But Thompson had the final say. He hit a dagger three with under three minutes left to extend Dallas’ lead to seven. Moments later, he drew a foul on a three-point attempt and calmly made all three free throws, pushing the lead to nine and sealing the game.
“I love shooting at Chase Center. I mean, I’ve been lucky enough to set records here and have incredible memories, so I try to tap into that,” Thompson said. “Every time I’m back, it was just as fun as the first time I came back, especially seeing all the number 11 jerseys and seeing the young fans, seeing how much of an impact I was able to have while I was here. It makes me incredibly proud of what I was able to do.”
Kidd praised Thompson’s performance and continued adjustment to the team. The former Warriors star’s stepping up in clutch situations exemplified one of the crucial reasons he was recruited so aggressively in free agency.
“Klay played great. Down the stretch, he also got us off to a good start,” Kidd explained.” I think just our composure was key. Klay set some good screens, made some big shots for us, and I thought his playmaking was really good too. Just again, being a veteran, being in a big-game situation, he handled it like he always has. For him, I think if he would have made that free throw, he would have had 30 points. But overall, he played great for us.”
Dončić capped his night with two blocks and three steals, including a critical defensive possession in which he worked his way back into the play after a fly-by and forced a turnover.
“Yeah, just doing it for my team, for myself. I know I had to do better, I think there’s still a lot of improvement,” Dončić said. “But I’m trying to do better, especially on the defensive end. I know when I’m locked in on defense it helps the whole team. Just gotta do it consistently and follow what I’ve been doing lately.”
Kidd enjoyed hearing Dončić’s comment about taking pride in his defensive impact, joking that the team would get that quote printed on T-shirts.
“We’re gonna get the T-shirts made with that quote,” Kidd joked. “Make sure you save that quote. Send that quote to me, please—because it’s true. We all know that he plays defense. He helps the team in a big, big way.”
The defensive possession involving Dončić making extra efforts like the fly-by before recovering to bottle up a guard like Brandin Podziemski is what Kidd enjoys seeing. Kidd mentioned the importance of Dončić having the energy to do it often.
“I think that was an incredible defense of contesting, not fouling, and trying to keep pause from making a play,” Kidd continued. “And so, again, we all know that he can play defense when he has the energy. That type of defense and it makes the team better. So we’re going to use that quote that he gave you, that you’re going to give us so we can make t-shirts.”
Klay Thompson’s Continued Dallas Mavericks Adjustment
Thompson has found an apparent rhythm, averaging 22.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in his last three games. Kidd believes Thompson has gotten comfortable playing off Dončić and Irving as they learn each other’s tendencies.
“You can see that he’s getting more comfortable, learning to play with Luka and Kai. It takes time, but you can tell he’s settling in,” Kidd said. “Again, he played great for us tonight.”
As Thompson adjusts, he’s learned more about how Dončić and Irving impact the game as he fits in offensively.
“They can take over the game at any time they want,” Thompson explained. “Luka is a magician with the ball in his hands. His shot-making and playmaking are ridiculous, especially for a guy his size. Kyrie is arguably the best one-on-one player in the league. I just try to space the floor for them, knock down shots, and play my role.”
Thompson still believes there is much room for him to elevate his game consistently as he gets comfortable with the Mavericks. He’s encouraged by the ultimate potential of what that’ll look like over time.
“I think it gets better with each game. I expected a huge adjustment, especially at the start of the season,” Thompson explained. “I still have another level to reach individually, and I think we do as well as a team. It’s very exciting.”
The moment remains special for Thompson to get his first win as a visitor at Chase Center. He experienced the ultimate high of four championships in a Warriors uniform and the lows of significant injuries that required long rehab processes.
“As far as regular-season wins, it’s gotta be up there. I just wanted to take that moment for myself,” Thompson said. “I spent a lot of days in this building, especially when I couldn’t play. To see that kind of reception and celebration made me happy again. I worked so hard to get back to this feeling, so I felt like I owed it to myself to take a second and soak it all in.”
Dončić shared how excited Thompson was coming off the court and entering the locker room, emphasizing how the Mavericks won this game for him.
“He was very hyped at the end, coming into the locker room. It’s amazing,” Dončić said. “You feel happy for the guy. Obviously, we wanted to win the first time here—we couldn’t—but the goal is to win and help him get through this. This was for him.”
Postgame Reflections
Golden State’s 27 made three-pointers tied their franchise record, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dallas’ balanced attack. Six Mavericks scored in double figures, with Dončić, Irving, and Thompson leading.
Kerr praised Dallas’ size and interior presence, noting the impact of Lively and Daniel Gafford in limiting second-chance opportunities.
“Those big guys are tough to deal with,” Kerr said. “Both Lively and Gafford, they take up a lot of space. Then other guys are coming in to rebound, like Luka, who had 11 I think. They’ve got a lot of size and put a lot of pressure on you.”
What’s Next
The Mavericks return home to face the Clippers on Thursday as they begin a four-game homestand, while the Warriors head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.
“I like where we’re at,” Thompson said. “We’ve got a nice homestand coming up, and we can really try to get up in the standings. It’s been a great first quarter of the season, especially after a slow start.”
With three full days off, the status of Naji Marshall (illness), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), and Maxi Kleber (illness; rib fracture) will be something to monitor ahead of their next matchup, as each player was sidelined. Dallas is off on Monday but has multiple practice days at its disposal.
