Luka Doncic has appeared. After a disappointing fourth game, with only six baskets in play and seven turnovers, the Slovenian has hit the table in Oklahoma. The Mavericks, in a momentous duel, beat the Thunder 92-104 and are on track to advance to the Conference Finals.
The former Real Madrid player, with a sprained knee, played the best game so far so far. In the previous four, Doncic was not fine. In fact, he averaged very modest numbers, 22 points and 39% shooting from the field. However, last night in Oklahoma, the Mavs player showed why he is a generational talent.
In a key match, since 82% of the teams that win in the fifth game with the tie tied advance from the series, the Slovenian scored 12 of the 22 field goals he attempted.
In addition, he added his second consecutive triple-double, the sixth in his career in the playoffs. Only LeBron James (15), Oscar Robertson (8), Nikola Jokic (8) and Russell Westbrook (6) accumulate more than him, and Luka’s NBA career has just begun.
Despite the blow on the Mavericks’ table, Doncic is not confident and is already thinking about Sunday’s clash, which could take Dallas to the Conference Finals two years later: “There is one more victory left in two games and that is all. We haven’t done anything yet, we have to continue.”
For the Thunder, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, second in the MVP voting, stood out with 30 points and eight assists. The Canadian, abandoned by the rest of his teammates, was not enough for Oklahoma, which missed Holmgren’s scoring contribution, with only 13 points.
There wasn’t much history in the Celtics-Cavaliers. Boston was a clear favorite in the tie and, in addition, Donovan Mitchell, star of the Cavs, did not play the last two games due to a calf strain. Joe Mazzulla’s men finished the series the first chance they had, winning at TD Garden 113-98.
Horford, the oldest player in the title playoffs at 38 years old, scored 22 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out five assists. He is, after LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the only player in the playoffs to surpass the barrier of 20 points, 15 rebounds and five assists at over 37 years old.
The Celtics, in which Tatum also shone, with 25 points and 10 rebounds, dominated the Cavs on the rebound (43-28) and from the perimeter, as they made 19 three-pointers. Even so, JB Bickerstaff’s team held on until the final period, where the Celtics gave them the finishing touch with a 13-2 run.
With this victory, those from Massachusetts reach the Conference Finals for the third consecutive year. It is also the sixth time in the last eight seasons that they have reached the title round in the East. The Celtics, who have not yet lost as visitors in the playoffs, await the winner of Knicks-Pacers in the penultimate step through the ring, with an advantage for the New Yorkers (3-2).