ORLANDO (AP) – Luka Doncic he made space to score the triple of the triumph, with nothing less than a sore ankle. It was another episode in the still-developing legend that Doncic feeds into the NBA “bubble.”
A long-range shot from the Slovenian guard in the final second capped a triple-double performance, and despite injury casualties, Dallas managed to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 135-133 in overtime on Sunday to tie the series 2-2. playoffs. Doncic finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists (14-21 in doubles, 4-10 in triples, 3-5 in free) in 46 minutes of action to record his second consecutive triple-double.
“We know this kid has a flair for the dramatic. He’s a guy who lives for moments like this,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. Doncic’s participation took just minutes before the game, as the Slovenian dragged a left ankle injury suffered in the third game. But once he stepped onto the court, he knew he would give it his all.
And at the moment of the crucial shot, the ankle did not even cross his mind. “It was one of the best feelings I’ve had as a player. It was just something special,” Doncic said of the decisive shot.
Previously, Marcus Morris had hit a 3-pointer with 9 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Clippers the lead. But that simply set the stage for the 21-year-old Slovenian’s basket, when Reggie Jackson was flagged. His teammates went to congratulate him immediately, and then greeted him like a champion in the locker room.
Doncic’s skill helped the Mavericks, seventh in the seed, post their biggest comeback in the playoffs, recovering from a 21-point deficit in the second quarter. Thus they improved the record of winning after being 19 points down against the San Antonio Spurs in the fifth game of the series for the 2003 Western Conference.
In the Mavericks there was also a good job from guard Trey Burke, with 25 points and 5 rebounds. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard contributed 32 points (7-13 in doubles, 3-9 in triples, 9-10 in free), 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 46m.
- Reaction in networks. Stephen Curry called the Slovenian’s game and the final minutes of the match “ridiculous”, in a good sense of the word. On the other hand, Dwyane Wade launched a “we are not worthy”. Later, the German footballer Toni Kroos also left his message on Twitter with a “Halleluka”.
Also, Boston neighborhood the Philadelphia Sixers with a resounding 4-0 to reach the semifinals of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics’ fourth win was 110-106, with Kemba Walker as the winner, with 32 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, accompanied by Jayson Tatum (28 points and 15 rebounds). In the Sixers the best was pivot Joel Embiid, with 30 points and 10 sacks.
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