Luka Doncic played the Mavericks’ third semifinal series game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sore left ankle and a sprained right knee. There was even a point in the game where he appeared exhausted, but he was determined to soldier on and secure the 2-1 lead for the Dallas franchise. Following the win, Kyrie Irving saluted the Slovenian guard’s urge to win and praised his leadership.
While talking about Doncic’s performance in the post-game conference, Irving said, “I think he used his voice very well tonight. You could tell he wanted to win and that’s all we need from Luka…For us it’s just continuing to feed him that energy that he can trust who he’s around and he can trust that when the ball leaves his hands other good things are going to happen.”
Emphasizing the importance of the team’s collective effort that would take away the pressure from Doncic, Irving added, “No matter if he scores a lot or not, our team is going to win. That’s where we’re putting our best foot forward…It’s just not on Luka, it’s on all of us.”
The Mavs duo contributed 22 points each in the 105-101 win, while the team-high 27 points came from P.J. Washington. Additionally, Doncic grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, obstructing the Thunder from snatching the lead. However, Doncic is not yet satisfied and he made it clear in the presser.
Luka Doncic Makes His Mindset Crystal Clear
Luka Doncic is clear about not celebrating early yet as they have not got the grip in the second-round series yet. Following Saturday’s win, the All-Star guard told the reporters in the post-game presser, “If you’re here, you gotta believe… We didn’t do nothing yet, we won two games.”
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The Mavericks started the playoff series against the OKC with a loss followed by two narrow wins. So Doncic believes that there is still work left to be done as they haven’t showcased their best performances yet.
The injuries have taken a toll on Doncic’s numbers, dipping drastically from 29.8 points per game against the LA Clippers in the first round to 23.3 points per game against the Thunder. However, Doncic is focused on his task, and with the support of his teammates, he could undoubtedly achieve success. Though the Thunder, with their strong defense, will try to hold back the Mavericks on Monday from extending their lead.
Also Read: Social Media Applauds Kyrie Irving for Gifting Shoes to Young Fan in Attendance During Game 2
