When locked in, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks can be the most dangerous team in the NBA. But after their most recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Slovenian star issued a challenge to his teammates to bring the momentum back to their side.
In the first game of their series, a Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers team went home with the 109-97 win over Doncic and the Mavericks. James Harden managed to impress everyone by hitting 47 percent from the field and 54 percent from deep, leading to a 28 point-performance. Paul George added 22 points and six rebounds, while Ivica Zubac made 20 points and 15 boards.
Dallas, on the other hand, saw Doncic drop 33 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists to lead his team in the loss. Kyrie Irving contributed 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Along with PJ Washington’s 11 points, every other player in the Mavs’ lineup that night didn’t score in double digits.
The victory helped Los Angeles draw first blood against the Mavericks in a contest Leonard has missed due to a right knee inflammation. It’s not yet known when the two-time NBA champion will be back for the Clippers. Dallas, meanwhile, need to get a win on the road if they want to gain an edge over LA in this series.
Dallas Mavericks Star Luka Doncic Drops Major Challenge After Loss to Los Angeles Clippers
After the game, Doncic got real on what he should have done against the Clippers early in the game. According to a tweet by Landon Thomas on X:
Luka Dončić: “I just gotta stay aggressive. That was my bad in the first half, wasn’t aggressive enough so I just gotta stay aggressive and find the open man,” Thomas tweeted.
Along from admitting his lapse, Doncic also pointed out what the Mavs have been doing before the regular season ended and what they need to do against Los Angeles. In a video posted by Mavs Fans For Life on X:
Luka Dončić: “We just gotta play like we used to play. Like we played the last 20 games of the season… passing the ball, cutting, ball movement. I think we did a great job the last 20 games. So we just gotta play like that.” pic.twitter.com/CpiUrxwTxF
— Mavs Fans For Life (@MavsFansForLife) April 21, 2024
The Mavericks boasted a 10th place offense and an 18th-ranked defense throughout the regular season. In the end, the Doncic-led team managed to grab the fifth seed by posting a record of 50 wins and 32 losses.
It remains to be seen whether the Mavs will rise up to Doncic’s challenge in Game 2. What’s certain, though, is that this series between the two teams will be an exciting one in the coming days.
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