Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11). Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Mavericks star duo joins exclusive club with Game 1 win

By Sai Mohan | Last updated 5/23/24

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been the NBA's most potent scoring tandem all year. After combining for 59.5 points in the regular season, the duo is averaging 49.5 points in 13 playoff games thus far.

Along the way, LuKai has started to break records for their scoring prowess. By scoring 30 or more each in Dallas' Game 1 win over Minnesota, they joined Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in an exclusive club.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the 2nd duo in NBA history to each score 30+ PTS in their first Conference Finals game together.

The first duo was Steph Curry & Kevin Durant. pic.twitter.com/gzVUKeW1sh
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) May 23, 2024

That's not all — according to ESPN Stats & Information, Doncic and Irving on Wednesday became the first duo in NBA history to score 30 points in a series opener twice during the same playoff run. They similarly torched the Clippers in Game 1 of the first-round series by scoring over 30 apiece.

It's all the more impressive for Doncic and Irving to shoot a combined 24-of-49 against a Timberwolves team widely regarded as the best defensive unit in the league, featuring two All-Defensive selections in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. But the wizardry of LuKai found a way like it always does.

Some have compared the pairing of Doncic and Irving to the former Cavs duo of LeBron James and Irving, who set several one-two-punch scoring records during their NBA title run in 2016. Could history be repeating itself? The Mavs are three wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.

One ominous Irving-Doncic stat already bodes well for Dallas' title hopes.

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