Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic became the first teenager in NBA history with a 30-point triple-double on Sunday, notching 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-120 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The 35 points were a career high for Doncic, who turns 20 on Feb. 28.
The previous youngest player to have a 30-point triple-double was LeBron James, who did so at 20 years, 100 days old on April 9, 2005, against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Doncic and the Mavs faltered down the stretch, losing a seven-point fourth-quarter lead after coming back from 12 down at halftime.
"For me, what matters is the victory," Doncic said. "[The triple-double] was special for sure, but it would be even more if we got the win."
Doncic is the fourth rookie in the past 35 seasons to record a 35-point triple-double. The others were Stephen Curry (Feb. 10, 2010), Jason Kidd (April 11, 1995) and Michael Jordan (Jan. 14, 1985).
Sunday's triple-double was Doncic's second this season. His first, on Jan. 21 against the Bucks, made him the second-youngest to record a triple-double, behind Markelle Fultz.
Doncic is averaging 20.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season.
Doncic once again turned the fourth quarter into his personal highlight reel, scoring 13 points, including a coast-to-coast dunk that gave Dallas a 99-93 lead.
When the Raptors pulled to 101-99, Doncic answered with a long 3-pointer to reach 30 points for the sixth time this season. He got his 10th assist to complete the triple-double by feeding DeAndre Jordan for an alley-oop dunk with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left in the fourth.
"We couldn't get him out of rhythm because he was low and strong and crossing over," Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. "Then with a burst, he was into the paint. And when we did get enough help there, he'd hang in the air until the last second and throw that incredible, two-handed pass out to the right corner. He's something else."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
