NBA Game Notes (Oct. 27, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on October 27, 2023.

Luka Magic

Luka Doncic scored a game-high 49 points to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists (both figures team highs) as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-120. It’s just the eighth time in 44 seasons the Mavericks have opened a season with back-to-back wins.

Doncic shot 16-25 from the field — including 9-14 from 3-point range — and made eight of his 10 free throws. Doncic’s nine 3-pointers made eclipsed his previous career high of eight, and was just one shy of the franchise single-game record shared by George McCloud, Wesley Matthews, and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Doncic — who produced 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in Thursday’s season opener — joined Stephen Curry (2021-22) as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double and a 40-point game within their first two games of a season. Doncic also joined Russell Westbrook (2016-17) as the only players in NBA history to record at least 80 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists through their first two games of a season.

Doncic was not charged with a turnover in 36 minutes of action. Since the NBA began tracking turnovers in 1977-78, only three other players have recorded a 45-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist game without committing a turnover: Alex English, Michael Jordan, and Giannis Antetokounmpo (twice).

The Nets were led by Cam Thomas, who scored a team-high 30 points on 12-19 shooting from the field. Thomas is the second Net to open a season with consecutive 30-point games (Julius Erving, 1973-74), and the first to do so since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976.