Luka Doncic might not have been in the MVP conversation for the early part of the season but he's making everyone take notice with his recent play.
In Boston on Wednesday, the Slovenian scored 36 points on a super-efficient 11-for-15 shooting from the field as the Dallas Mavericks, who led by as many as 23, survived a furious Celtics comeback to win 113-108.
Doncic finished shooting a career-best 73.3 percent from the field while knocking down seven 3-pointers, one shy of tying his career-high.
This was Doncic's 46th career game with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. (Reminder, he's only in his third season). That ranks him third on the all-time Mavericks charts and just one behind second-placed Dirk Nowitzki.
There have been a number of noteworthy performances in recent weeks as the 22-year-old has bounced back from a rough start to the season.
Just over a week ago, he scored 37 points on 13-for-19 shooting from the field while knocking down a career-best eight 3-pointers on just nine attempts.
Capping off March with the numerous highlight-filled performances, Doncic became only the fifth player in the league's 3-point era (since 1980) to average at least 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 50 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Month-by-month, Doncic has taken huge leaps in key efficiency stats, vaulting him higher in the MVP discussion.
| Record | FG% | 3PM | 3P% | +/- | |
| December | 1-3 | 43.8% | 0.5 | 9.5% | -5.3 |
| January | 7-8 | 47.5% | 2.5 | 33.0% | +1.0 |
| February | 8-4 | 48.6% | 3.3 | 43.5% | +2.3 |
| March | 8-2 | 52.7% | 4.5 | 43.3% | +9.1 |
Early in February, Dallas ranked 13th in the West with an 8-13 record. In large part to Doncic's return to form, Dallas now sits at 25-21, good for seventh in the West.
Entering April, the Mavericks have the third-easiest remaining schedule in the league.
If Dallas continues to rise up the West standing on the back of stellar Doncic showcases, expect the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year to be mentioned among the top MVP candidates by season's end yet again.
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