Luka Doncic Gets Real On Being 1 Win Away From His First NBA Finals Appearance

Luka Doncic is excited to make the NBA Finals but won't overlook the Timberwolves until the Mavericks win a fourth game to eliminate them.

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Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic led the Mavericks alongside Kyrie Irving to a 116-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference Final matchup. The Mavs have taken a 3-0 series lead and Doncic is excited about the prospect of his maiden NBA Finals but isn’t willing to take his eyes off the Timberwolves until they eliminate them.

“I don’t know what to say, but it feels great. We gotta think about the next game. We gotta play with the same mentality. They’re not gonna go away. No way. We need to prepare for the next game and think about the next game.”

Doncic put up 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals in the win over the Timberwolves. This was his third consecutive game of over 30 points against the Wolves, improving his series average to 32.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists. 

Doncic struggled through the opening two rounds due to injury and was questionable for Game 3, but there’s a noticeable difference in his play since Game 5 of the second round.

The Mavericks are likely headed to a Finals matchup against the Boston Celtics, with both teams holding 3-0 leads over the Conference opponents. This would be the first time the Mavs have faced a team other than the Miami Heat in the Finals, matching up with them in the 2006 and 2011 NBA Finals.


Luka Doncic Shares What He’s Learned From Kyrie Irving

All the plaudits for tonight’s win are to be shared between Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, as the pair combined for 66 points to put the Timberwolves away. Doncic got real on how Kyrie keeps helping him dig deep to close out games, with the Slovenian guard sharing what Irving said to him when Luka complained about fatigue.

“A lot. When we were winning by nine on the last possession I told him, ‘I’m tired as sh*t.’ He told me that’s the way it’s supposed to be. He brought that calmness to our team, to me, the maturity, and it’s been unbelievable to have him on our team. Learning from him every day, positive energy always, just a blessing having him on our team.”

This partnership is living up to the billing, with the pair being hailed as one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history. Given how much hate they got when they were partnered up in February 2023, this is the best way they could have responded to the haters.

Irving is averaging 27.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in the series against the Wolves, with he and Luka slicing the Wolves’ defense apart. The best defensive team in the NBA has no answer for this magical backcourt partnership, and that’s what’s put them in a 3-0 hole.

Anthony Edwards is a future superstar, but his light isn’t as bright as Luka’s or Kyrie’s at the moment. He’s averaging 22.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists this series, looking fatigued in the first deep playoff run of his career. With Karl-Anthony Towns not being of any use on offense either, this series looks all but over already. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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