After a performance Indiana had never seen before, he praises D. Sabonis: “I was on another planet.”

In recent weeks, along with the Pacers Club, a Lithuanian in such a gambling crisis has erupted like a volcano in a snowy Minnesota town.

With the 13-degree cold outside, an uncompromising fight broke out in the arena of the Target Center.

Sabonis came to Minneapolis in the last six games, accumulating 18.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

These would be big numbers for many NBA players, but not for the Lithuanian, who is already claiming this season not only for the All-Star Game, but also for the top five basketball players at the end of the season. Especially since D. Sabonis’s hit didn’t remind him of the NBA’s brightest star, usually around 55 percent. In recent weeks, the Lithuanian attacking the basket has only hit 40.4 percent. Lance.

The Pacers also hit this stretch, winning just two of six games.

But in Minneapolis, Sabonis did his best to forget, at least briefly, the recent troubles.

Although on the other side of the field he met one of the best tall players in the NBA, two-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Lithuanian did not escape almost 30 million. The tall, dollar-winning Timberwolves.

The 25-year-old basketball player representing the Dominican Republic blocked Sabonis’ first attempt, when the Lithuanian predictably turned left and threw his left hand, but after this episode, the Pacers leader, who learned, became a insurmountable dilemma Defense of the Timberwolves.

Domas, who scored the most points below the basket, scored 14 points in the second quarter alone, and at the end of the third quarter, he already had 27 points on his account.

There are 11 seconds left in the last quarter, it was D. Sabonis who took the initiative and caused a foul, and after throwing a throw-in, snatched extra time (121: 121).

Not only were the five points scored by the Lithuanian important, but also the intercepted ball 28 seconds before the game, when Wolves leader Malikas Beasley D. Sabonis stole the ball from the opponent, and a few seconds later Malcolm Brogdon assured the victory of the Pacers with an accuracy of three points, increasing the difference to 6 points (132: 126).

36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, 13 shots of 21, these were registered at the end of the duel by the score of the game, which registered the victory of the Pacers after an extension of 134: 128.

“Tonight the Dome was on another planet,” the Pacers Twitter account said after the game.

36 points is a new record for the professional performance of D. Sabonis, which improved for the third time this season: in December, the Lithuanian shot 32 points and, in early February, in Milwaukee he raised the record to 33 points.

But even more impressive than the points earned to look at the triple double accumulated next to them.

This is the first time in Lithuania’s career that he has achieved double scores in the rebounds and assists columns, scoring at least 30 points. This season, there were only a handful of such events in the entire NBA league, and only Luka Dončičius (Dallas Mavericks), James Harden (Brooklyn Nets) and Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat) scored triple-doubles and more.

Additionally, Dom became the first in Pacers history to score at least 30 points in a single game, bounce at least 15 balls and dispense at least 10 assists.

“It just came to our notice then. I always say this when someone asks me about Dom. He’s a star, ready to play every night. He’s leading our team forward.” – Pacers player M.Brogdon no he spared applause after the game, who also played a solid game and scored 32 points.

Sabonis also recorded the history of the Indiana club by improving on his career triple-doubles record.

It even belonged to the legendary German Detlef Schrempf for 28 years, who collected a triple-double six times in four seasons at Indianapolis. D. Sabonis, who also defended the Pacers honor for less than four seasons, managed to do so for the seventh time.

“Sabonis didn’t try to hold the ball, he made quick decisions and started the Pacers attack,” the Indiana Indy Star media channel praised the Lithuanian after the game.

Sabonis’ performance in Minnesota looks impressive even considering the historical context.

Of all the basketball players in the current league, only four players had a game of at least 35 points, rebounds of at least 15 balls and at least 10 assists.

Most, even three times, those numbers were compiled by triple-back machine Russell Westbrook. James Harden recorded that result twice.

DeMarcus Cousins ​​also played such an impressive game in the New Orleans Pelicans jersey three years ago, and the last person to join the club before D. Sabonis was none other than Luka Dončičius, who scored 36 points exactly one month ago. , grabbed 16 balls and scored 15 assists against the Chicago Bulls.

“Scanpix” nuotr./Luka Dončičius

But as usual, D. Sabonis does not speak of personal numbers after his impressive performances.

Even after playing arguably the best game of his career, the Lithuanian remained restrained and, accused by Indiana journalists for his personal results, continued to turn his tongue towards the success of the team, which is the most important thing for him.

“The most important thing for me is the team’s victory. There was a lot of excitement after the game, there was a good mood in the dressing room, which is the most important thing, said the hero of the game. – Personal indicators mean nothing to me. We just needed this win. I’m happy I won it, everyone smiled after the game, which is the most important thing. “