Speaking with ESPN’s Malika Andrews this week, Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic opened up on the series at hand and took the blame for his rough performance all the way around. According to Doncic, who is in his first Finals ever, he dropped the ball in Game 3 and will work to be better going forward.
“It was tough. Probably wasn’t the smartest thing. But it was a physical game and to get six fouls, I didn’t expect it,” said Doncic. “It’s tough. I always say it’s easier to be in the game than being on the bench. I was more nervous on the bench. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do… this is the Finals. I told my teammates, ‘My bad, you can’t do that — especially in the NBA Finals.’”
Luka Doncic admits he let Dallas down in Game 3, telling his teammates: “My bad, you can’t do that — especially in the NBA Finals.”
Our interview on fouling out for the first time in the playoffs, needing another pain killing shot for Game 4 and trying to make history down 0-3: pic.twitter.com/kRSjL93IHy
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 13, 2024
Going back to Dallas with an 0-2 deficit, the Mavericks desperately needed to win Game 3 if they wanted any chance of winning the series. Initially, the Mavericks stormed out of the gate thanks to some quick and easy buckets from the star duo, who combined for 21 points at the end of the first quarter.
But after 25-year-old Luka Doncic got himself ejected down the stretch, the Mavericks had to fight on without him and lost. Doncic finished with 27 points in the game but was flamed by the fans for his reckless behavior toward the referees –which probably cost his team the win.
Unfortunately, this has been a common theme throughout Luka’s career. Since his very first season, he’s always picked a fight with the officials and he’s always looking for fouls when he attempts a shot or drives into the lane. While it is a common practice for many athletes, Luka takes this tradition to the extreme and it gets to a point where it becomes a detriment to the entire team. If not for Kyrie Irving’s presence, the Mavericks might not even be in this position at all.
Kyrie Irving Says To “Pump The Brakes” On His Partnership With Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving, a 2016 champion with the Cavaliers, knows how important it is for him and Luka to play well. Without those two leading the charge, the Mavericks have virtually no chance to win. Even so, with both Luka and Kyrie sure to return next season, we probably have not seen the last of the Mavericks on this kind of run.
With No. 77 and No. 11, the Mavericks will be competitive for years to come but Irving wants to ensure that he keeps fan expectations in check.
“We enjoyed the compliments… but pump your brakes a little bit,” said Kyrie to Jared Greenburg. “You can be an incredible scorer but it’s all about the team winning games.”
“We enjoyed the compliments… but pump your brakes a little bit. … You can be an incredible scorer but it’s all about the team winning games.”
Kyrie Irving speaks with @JaredSGreenberg on the 'best offensive backcourt in NBA history' claims 👀 pic.twitter.com/RxEM7GJZoT
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 13, 2024
It’s undeniable that the Celtics had an advantage from the very start. They had over a week to prepare for the matchup and have several guys on the roster with championship experience. So for a Mavericks team whose stars are struggling and role-players have cratered, it’s no wonder why the Mavericks find themselves on a three-game losing streak.
With Game 4 on Friday, the Mavericks still have one last chance to try and save their season but it’s only a matter of time before they head home empty-handed. By the time it’s all said and done, Doncic and Irving will likely get the brunt of the blame.
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