In the past 20 seasons, a team trailing by 9 or more with 35 seconds left had never won a game, compared with 13,884 losses. The data from ESPN Stats & Info gives an idea of how impossible the comeback of the Mavs was, down by 9 with 27 seconds to go, but able to equalize thanks to a daring field goal by Luka Doncic one second from the end, after having deliberately missed the free kick to give himself a chance, then closing the accounts in overtime.
Doncic’s miracle at the end of regulation is just the tip of an iceberg never seen before in NBA history, with a triple-double of 60 points (a career high), 21 rebounds (also a career high) and 10 assists that no one had ever had accomplished. “I’m tired as hell, I need a beer to recover” he said smiling at the end of the match, which ended with 21/31 shooting (2/6 from three) and 16/22 free throws, accompanied by Spencer’s 25 Dinwiddie and the 19 by Christian Wood.
The Knicks, without former player Jalen Brunson with a hip problem and RJ Barrett with a finger laceration after 96 seconds of the game, managed to lose a game that really could not be lost by wasting Quentin’s 33 points Grimes (career high) and Julius Randle’s 29 with 18 rebounds. It was New York’s fourth straight loss, a knockout streak that came after Thibodeau’s team had won their previous eight games.