Following their 124-103 thumping of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs on Thursday, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA playoffs.
The Slovenian outscored the Timberwolves on his right out of the starting lineup, scoring 20 points in the first quarter. Despite taunting Minnesota supporters, he put up a 36-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, and two-steal performance that earned him a trip to the finals.
Throughout the series, Luka Doncic’s performance against Anthony Edwards & Co. extended beyond Game 5. He has been outstanding throughout the season, especially during the playoffs. According to NBA.com stats, he has averaged a team-best 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in 17 postseason games.
The only players on the list before them were NBA Legend Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic. The Denver Nuggets star Jokic completed the milestone last year. Meanwhile, James was the only player to do so multiple times. Larry Bird was the only player in the late 90s to accumulate these stats.
Luka Doncic and the company overcame the homecourt disadvantage in every playoff round and got to the stage. Before winning the East finals, Tatum and his teammates had the advantage of home court in the first round and the semifinals.
Luka Doncic’s Gameplay Against Jayson Tatum Will Be the Most Talked About Headline for the Finals
There’s little doubt that Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic will minimize any man-versus-man competition. They’ll probably keep to the storyline that the performance of their teams will determine who wins or loses the title. Teams, not individuals, will win or lose championships, but the stars will decide who takes home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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Therefore, the main plot point of the series will be how Luka Doncic and Tatum perform in the NBA Finals in 2024. Although they each have excellent supporting casts, the two players’ wheels will determine the destiny of the Mavericks and the Celtics, respectively.
How their figures compare to one another will be an interesting side note. Both will probably keep topping the squad regarding points, rebounds, and assists, but seeing which superstar takes his team to victory will be fascinating.