Luka Doncic, Dirk Nowitzki’s successor as the leader of the Dallas Mavericks, delighted the North American professional basketball league NBA with another gala performance in the playoffs. Thanks to his outstanding performance, the Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday evening after extra time 135: 133 and equaled 2: 2 in the best-of-seven series. Afterwards, the experts praised the young Slovenian. “He doesn’t see the game in 5G, but in 6G,” said Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle: “The performance was from another planet.”
Doncic had decided the game with a sunk three-point throw with the final siren; he came up with a total of 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 templates. According to the sports channel ESPN So far, only one professional has managed to put up more than 40 points in a playoff game and then turn it in the final second: Michael Jordan.
“When I hit the throw and the whole team ran to me – that was one of the best feelings ever,” said the 21-year-old Doncic, who has now replaced Nowitzki as the main actor of the team. Dallas was now 21 points behind, and Doncic, who himself suffered from an ankle injury from the third match, had to do without his congenial partner Kristaps Porzingis. All the more impressive was Doncic’s performance, which also demanded great respect from NBA competitors such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dwayne Wade and Clipper professional Kawhi Leonard.
When Doncic moved from Real Madrid to the USA in 2018 at the age of 19, he had already cleared almost everything there was in terms of titles and awards in Europe: he had led Real to the Euroleague championship and was named Player of the Year. Several NBA experts nevertheless had doubts whether Doncic would also prevail in the world’s best professional league. They should be silent now.
The Boston Celtics around the German national player Daniel Theis have meanwhile already moved into the second playoff round. There, after the 110-106 over the Philadelphia 76ers and the clear 4-0 series success, the team meets defending champions Toronto Raptors. The team from Canada also remained unbeaten in the series against the Brooklyn Nets and won 150: 122 in the end. The Utah Jazz still lacked a success to advance after the 129: 127 against the Denver Nuggets.
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