Luka Doncic took the blame for not adequately supporting Kyrie Irving in the Dallas Mavericks’ 116-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, a defeat that evened the NBA playoff series at two games apiece.
Irving’s scoring onslaught, including all 40 of his points after the Clippers had established a commanding 31-point lead, wasn’t enough to secure a win. His remarkable effort featured an acrobatic layup that put Dallas ahead with just 2:15 left on the clock. However, Doncic, contending with right knee soreness, felt he fell short in his support.
“I just got to help him more,” Doncic said after the game. “I feel like I’m letting him down, so I got to be there. I got to help him more. He’s given everything that he has, and he’s been amazing for us the whole series.”
Despite averaging a near triple-double with 29.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in four postseason games against the Clippers, Doncic’s shooting has been subpar. He’s making just 38.6% of his field goals and 26.5% from three-point range, while turning the ball over 3.8 times per game.
Known for his high performance standards, Doncic finished Sunday’s game with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists but struggled with his shooting efficiency, going 10 of 24 from the field and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. Defensively, he also found it challenging, with the Clippers shooting 8 of 15 with him as the primary defender.
Despite dealing with knee issues that have hindered his lateral movement and shot creation, Doncic insisted his physical condition should not be used as an excuse.
“It’s hurting obviously, but it shouldn’t be an excuse, man,” he remarked. “Just came out a little sloppy, so I got to be way better than that.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd highlighted the impact of Doncic’s limited minutes due to foul trouble, noting the team struggled significantly during his brief rests.
“I thought he did everything he could,” Kidd said. “You [would have] to ask him how his health, but I thought he competed on both ends.”
The game marked a crucial moment for strategic adjustments, with Dallas aiming to curtail the Clippers’ sharpshooters, James Harden and Paul George, from the 3-point line in the second half. Despite this effort, Harden managed to score crucial points on floaters inside the paint, diverging from his usual three-point attempts.
As the series returns to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Mavericks are set to reassess their approach, with Doncic and Irving both looking to make stronger impacts to gain an upper hand in the series.
