Luka Doncic Delivers a Historic Performance

Everyone including Luka Doncic himself was pretty skeptical when he first came onto the AdventHealth Arena court. Doncic was all determined to make it to Game 4 and prove to everyone that he could play. And when he got the go-ahead to play, he not only played but delivered a historic performance. With 13-assist, 17-rebound, & 43-point masterpiece taking the Dallas Mavericks to a victory over LA Clippers.

Here’s what Doncic said after the victory:

"I can't explain the emotions I had. Not only when the ball goes in, but when I saw the whole team running toward me. That was something special, one of the best feelings I ever had a player. Just something special."

This was certainly something very special. The 21-year-old Doncic outstanding performance that had led the Mavericks to the biggest playoff comeback of the franchise. With this, the young basketball player became the youngest in the history of the NBA to record a 40-point triple-double in the playoffs. It was only the legend Michael Jordan, before Doncic who in 1989 had capped a 40-point playoff performance.

While Mavericks were overwhelmingly happy about this, Doc Rivers, the head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers looked emotionally weak.

Doncic unparalleled toughness.

Taking into account the fact that in the fourth quarter how the sprained ankle bothered him and led him to leave the Mavs' Game 3 loss, Doncic showed unparalleled toughness. Once he cleared to reenter the game he had already made that clear in his head that he cannot push off that leg. The mavericks were worried, however, an MRI cleared it as a mild ankle injury.

Doncic talking about the people behind the scene said, "The guys that you don't hear about behind [the scenes] did an amazing job with me yesterday. We were working almost the whole day. They were helping me out the whole time, whatever I needed. I obviously wasn't 100 percent, but I think I was good."

Doncic was outstanding throughout the game.

It was only in the first quarter when he was seen grabbing his ankle. But that was the only moment when someone can identify that something is bothering him. Throughout, Doncic dominated off the dribble, collapsing the Clippers' defense, making several assists & scoring. He played for 46 minutes without leaving the floor, which is the highest all through his NBA career. It was clear from the first moment when Doncic was in the lineup. Everyone kind of knew that the team was going to get something fascinating.

Talking about Doncic, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said “Look, we know this kid has got a flair for the dramatic. He's a performer as well as a great player. He's a guy that lives for these moments and is completely fearless. Listen, there was nothing that was going to keep him from staying in the game. He kept telling me that he was good, as many minutes as we needed him. I didn't even try to get him out before the quarter breaks. That would have been a fistfight, and I wasn't into that today. Look, we needed him out there. We needed him out there."