Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic put in a remarkable performance in Game 4, including a game-winning buxxer-beating 3-pointer to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime.
There were questions about Doncic’s sprained left ankle, and his status was up in the air on Sunday, but neither his ankle or the Clippers could put a stop to Doncic come gametime, as he dazzled with a 43-point, 17-rebound, 13-assist masterpiece in the victory.
Doncic, 21, continues to impress, and with his performance on Sunday, Doncic joined Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history with two of triple-doubles in their first four playoff games.
“I can’t explain the emotions I had,” Doncic said, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon. “Not only when the ball goes in but when I see the whole team running toward me. That was something special, one of the best feelings I ever had as a player. Just something special.”
“As soon as we saw that he was in the lineup, we knew we were going to get something special from him,” Mavs guard Seth Curry said.
“Look, we know this kid has got a flair for the dramatic,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a performer as well as a great player. He’s a guy that lives for these moments and is completely fearless.”
Doncic praised the Mavs’ medical team and staff in getting him ready to play.
“The guys that you don’t hear about behind [the scenes] did an amazing job with me yesterday,” Doncic said. “We were working almost the whole day. They were helping me out the whole time, whatever I needed. I obviously wasn’t 100 percent, but I think I was good.”
“Listen, there was nothing that was going to keep him from staying in the game,” Carlisle said. “He kept telling me that he was good, as many minutes as we needed him. I didn’t even try to get him out before the quarter breaks. That would have been a fistfight, and I wasn’t into that today. Look, we needed him out there. We needed him out there.”
Doncic also talked about hitting the amazing game winning step-back three pointer at the buzzer that gave Dallas the victory.
“That was one of the best feelings ever.”
