Luka Doncic delivered a historic performance in the NBA Playoffs despite being out of shape due to a cold and having not yet recovered from a knee injury.
Luka Doncic was not in good health and had to face the torture of playing with a sore knee, so the medical crew promptly placed a huge ice pack on his right knee.
There are still more than 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks’ contest against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Treatment is rarely carried out on the bench, but this time was different. Luka Doncic just finished with 35 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, culminating in a and-1 scoring sequenace that extended the lead to 104-74.
At Game 5 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers, Luka Doncic obviously showed signs of tiredness. Nonetheless, the Slovenian star shone and helped the Mavericks win big.
Without Doncic’s leadership, the Dallas Mavericks cruised to a 123-93 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, establishing a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.
Despite a nearly week-long cold and a knee injury sustained in Game 3, Luka Doncic was determined to fight alongside his teammates.
“This is the NBA Playoffs, which gives me personally a lot of adrenalin, a lot of emotions. If it was just the Regular Season, I would rest for one match, but this is the Playoffs and I don’t want to sit on the sidelines and watch my teammates fight ,” Doncic shared after the match.
Highlights of Luka Doncic’s 35 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds performance in Game 5.
Luka delivered an impressive performance despite being out of shape and having to deal with pain on the field. The third quarter was his most explosive, with 14 points and three assists in nearly 12 minutes of play (only sitting out for 8 seconds), helping to push the lead from 56-46 to 89-69.
It is impossible to dismiss Doncic’s defensive performance, which has made him the greatest player in the series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers. When Luka Doncic was the primary defender in Game 5, the Clippers only shot 3-12 from the field (including 0-7 from three).
Luka Doncic is the fifth player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in at least 20 playoff games before the age of 25. The remaining four names are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Jayson Tatum.
Luka Doncic is one of the five players who reached 20 games and 30 points in the NBA Playoffs before turning 25.
After witnessing Luka Doncic burst, Kyrie Irving applauded and demonstrated admiration for his teammate: “One thing I can confirm is that Luka is quite stubborn.
Regardless of his suffering or health, he will not miss critical matches.
This is something I’ve always respected. I am always glad and happy to have such a teammate on my side. He is brilliant, energetic, and very determined.”The outcome of Game 5 helped the Dallas Mavericks get closer to the Western semi-finals. They are only one win away from their aim.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers will be eliminated in Game 6 on Dallas’ field. Coach Tyronn Lue’s team must break their spirits and find a way to deal with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the next game.
Game 6 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs series between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4.
