Mavericks Luka Doncic scores career-high 51 points vs. Clippers

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic poured in a career-high 51 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists in a 112-105 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. It was the team's first game since trading big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards earlier in the day.

Doncic started the game hot by scoring 28 points in the first quarter, including hitting seven 3-pointers in the opening frame. He wouldn't hit from beyond the arc the rest of the way.

Before Thursday's trade deadline, Dallas sent Porzingis to Washington in a trade for Spencer Dinwiddie and wing Davis Bertans. Porzingis averaged 19.2 points and 7.7 rebounds for Dallas this season but has missed 21 games due to injuries and time spent in the NBA's health and safety protocols.

The Mavericks are fifth in the Western Conference at 32-23.

(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

Was this a statement performance by Doncic?

Tim Cato, Mavericks beat writer: Doncic didn't enjoy the opening months of this season whatsoever. He struggled while working his way into game shape and his team fared no better, and while there were still moments of brilliance and filled-up box scores, it was clear Doncic wasn't at his best.

He is now and has been for weeks. He's a top-five player in the league, and scoring 28 points in Thursday's opening quarter is as good a sign as any that he's definitely, certainly back.

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How do you envision Dinwiddie, Bertans fitting in?

Cato: Dallas didn't trade Porzingis because he was a bad player, nor did they trade for Dinwiddie or Bertans because they're the missing pieces to this roster. Dinwiddie and Bertans will, in all likelihood, be rotation options who carve out roles in the Mavericks' second unit, but they're here because their contracts set Dallas up for future moves.

Whatever basketball benefit they provide in the interim is merely a bonus.

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