DALLAS -- Luka Doncic scowled as he walked to the bench at the end of regulation, muttering after he didn't touch the ball on the final possession, concerned that the Dallas Mavericks' season-long struggles in clutch situations were continuing.
Then Doncic proceeded to dominate the overtime period along with Kristaps Porzingis in leading the Mavs to a 127-123 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
"Sometimes we're going to win, sometimes no, but today was a great example that we can do it," Doncic said after he combined with Porzingis to score 13 of the Mavs' 15 points in overtime.
The Mavs lead the NBA in offensive efficiency this season, but they often get bogged down in clutch situations. Dallas ranks 27th in clutch offensive rating, according to NBA Advanced Stats, averaging 97.0 points per 100 possessions.
However, Doncic and Porzingis dominated in overtime against a New Orleans team playing the second night of a back-to-back. The duo combined to go 4-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line in the extra period. Doncic and Porzingis scored or assisted on 20 of the Mavs' final 25 points.
"He's running the show with KP," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of Doncic. "That's how we play it. Every once in a while, I'll throw a playcall out there for those guys if they're looking for one, but this is where that group has to continue to grow and learn. They had great success tonight."
Doncic, who finished with 30 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to break Jason Kidd's franchise record with his 22nd career triple-double, scored the Mavs' first basket of overtime by backing down Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday for a layup. Doncic hit a pair of free throws a couple of minutes later after driving past Lonzo Ball and getting fouled. He gave the Mavs the lead for good on the next possession, drilling a step-back 3 over center Derrick Favors.
Porzingis, who finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, delivered the dagger with a tomahawk dunk that put the Mavs up four points with 49 seconds remaining. It was the result of a perfectly executed pick-and-roll with Doncic, who hit Porzingis in stride with a bounce pass between two defenders.
"He keeps making huge plays for us, and I think he's also learned a lot through this season," said Porzingis, who had a turnaround jumper and a pair of free throws that iced the triumph in overtime. "We'll keep growing together and getting better. Overall, we've taken a little step forward in terms of finishing out games."
Doncic, 21, became the youngest player in NBA history to have at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a game, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. It was his 10th 30-point triple-double of the season, and he joined Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Michael Jordan as players who had at least 10 such performances in a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Doncic dominated despite playing with such pain in his left thumb that he underwent a precautionary X-ray following Wednesday's contest. The X-ray did not reveal a fracture.
He sprained the thumb while recording a triple-double in a Feb. 26 road win over the San Antonio Spurs. He has been hit in the thumb several times since, as opponents have swiped at the ball, and he sat out Sunday's road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"It hurts, but I can play with it," Doncic said. "I've got to wrap it with this plastic thing, so if I get hit, I don't get hit that hard. But I've just got to fight through it and just play games."