Luka Doncic called his historic 40-point triple-double and game-winning shot to even the series with the Clippers on Sunday « something special. »
When Luka Doncic first stepped foot on the AdventHealth Arena court Sunday afternoon, he hoped to prove to himself and the Dallas Mavericks’ medical staff that he could play in Game 4, about 40 hours after spraining his left ankle. Doncic received clearance to play and then proceeded to deliver a historic performance, capping a 43-point,17-rebound,13-assist masterpiece with a buzzer-beating stepback 3-pointer to seal the Mavs’ series-evening 135-133 overtime win over the LA Clippers. « I can’t explain the emotions I had, » Doncic said. « Not only when the ball goes in, but when I see the whole team running towards me, that was something special. One of the best feelings I ever had as a player. Just something special. » The effort of the 21-year-old Doncic, who led the Mavs to the franchise’s biggest playoff comeback ever after Dallas trailed by 21 in the first half, certainly qualified as something special. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Doncic became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point triple-double in the playoffs. It tied for the second-highest-scoring postseason triple-double in league history, behind only a 51-pointer by then-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. The only other time a player capped a 40-point playoff performance by hitting a make-it-or-lose buzzer-beater was when Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan hit « The Shot » over the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Craig Ehlo in 1989. « As soon as we saw that he was in the lineup, we knew we were going to get something special from him, » said Mavs guard Seth Curry, who had 15 points on 10-of-14 shooting off the bench. And Doncic did it on a sprained left ankle without co-star Kristaps Porzingis, a last-minute scratch due to right knee soreness whose Game 5 status is to be determined. « 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. » Luka Doncic was nearly unstoppable in Game 4, scoring on 6 different half-court defenders.24 of 31 attempts were contested. Doncic also displayed incredible toughness, considering the sprained ankle forced him to leave the Mavs’ Game 3 loss in the fourth quarter on Friday night, after he re-entered the game but determined he couldn’t push off that leg.
