Dirk Nowitzki delivered some of the Mavericks’ most legendary playoff performances.
Dirk Nowitzki, 50 points (2006 WCF, Game 5)
There is a lot of Dirk Nowitzki on this list, as he’s arguably the greatest player in franchise history. Amid his many outstanding playoff performances, his showing in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Suns stands out as the most prolific from a scoring perspective. Nowitzki dropped 50 to give the Mavericks a 3-2 lead in the series. He drilled five of six attempts from deep and was nails at the free throw line, converting 17 of 18 from the stripe. The Mavericks would go on to advance to the Finals against the Heat.
Dirk Nowitzki, 48 points (2011 WCF, Game 1)
Nowitzki and the Mavericks were on a mission in the 2011 postseason, which they capped off with the only NBA championship in franchise history. Dirk set the tone in the opening game of the Western Conference Finals against a Thunder team starting to level up around a young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Nowitzki was automatic from the floor that night, going 12-for-15. He also got to the line often and sank all 24 of his free throw attempts. On the defensive end, he added six rebounds and four blocks.
Luka Dončić, 46 points (2021 First Round, Game 7)
Dončić put forth a Herculean effort against the Clippers in Game 7 of the first round of the 2021 playoffs. He popped for 46 points and went 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. He added 14 assists and seven rebounds over 45 minutes of action. Unfortunately for Dallas, Dončić’s big game wasn’t enough to help the Mavericks advance, as the Clippers triumphed 126-111.
Dirk Nowitzki, 46 points (2003 First Round, Game 1)
2003 marked Nowitzki’s third trip to the playoffs and signaled a step forward in establishing the team among the Western Conference’s elite. Nowitzki and the Mavericks started with a bang in their postseason opener against the Trail Blazers. Dirk accounted for 46 of Dallas’ 96 points in the win. He went 4-for-5 from deep and added 10 rebounds. The Mavericks would go on to outlast the Trail Blazers in a grueling seven-game set before falling to the eventual champion Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
Luka Dončić, 45 points (2022 WCSF, Game 1)
Dončić had just led the Mavericks past the Jazz in the first round and opened the next series with an impressive outing against the Suns. He finished with 45 points on 50 percent shooting while adding 12 rebounds and eight assists, falling just shy of a monster triple-double. Though the Mavericks dropped this game, they went on to win the series in seven games and advance to the Western Conference Finals. Dončić had four games with at least 30 points in that series.
