Luka Doncic: 'If we give up 130 points in four quarters, that’s hard to win'
The fact that the Mavericks shot 61% on Saturday — and along with Hardaway’s big game got 42 points from Luka Doncic and 23 from Kyrie Irving – and still lost is a microcosm of their defensively challenged play all season. “It’s every time the same problem,” Doncic said. “The offense is fine. But if we give up 130 points in four quarters, that’s hard to win.”
Source: Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News
Source: Brad Townsend @ Dallas Morning News
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Luka enters play today just 8 pts behind Joel Embiid as he tries to become the first Mavericks player to ever lead @NBA in scoring. Philly plays at Milwaukee tonight. – 10:10 AM
Luka enters play today just 8 pts behind Joel Embiid as he tries to become the first Mavericks player to ever lead @NBA in scoring. Philly plays at Milwaukee tonight. – 10:10 AM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
April 2 RPR MVP:
1. Joel Embiid: 16.5
2. Nikola Jokić: 16.03
3. Luka Dončić: 15.33
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 14.36
5. Damian Lillard: 14.06
6. Jayson Tatum: 14.18
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 13.84
8. Anthony Davis: 13.22
9. Domantas Sabonis: 12.59
10. LeBron James: 12.51 pic.twitter.com/rf3Jig7HPR – 10:03 AM
April 2 RPR MVP:
1. Joel Embiid: 16.5
2. Nikola Jokić: 16.03
3. Luka Dončić: 15.33
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 14.36
5. Damian Lillard: 14.06
6. Jayson Tatum: 14.18
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 13.84
8. Anthony Davis: 13.22
9. Domantas Sabonis: 12.59
10. LeBron James: 12.51 pic.twitter.com/rf3Jig7HPR – 10:03 AM
Tom Ziller @teamziller
So much of The Discourse around Mavs circa mid-Feb was about the Luka + Kyrie offensive fit when it was super clear that this team’s problem was a bad defense getting worse.
Last night, w/ Bam DNP: Miami bigs Cody Zeller and Kevin Love combine for 38 pts on 61% FG in 48 min. – 9:36 AM
So much of The Discourse around Mavs circa mid-Feb was about the Luka + Kyrie offensive fit when it was super clear that this team’s problem was a bad defense getting worse.
Last night, w/ Bam DNP: Miami bigs Cody Zeller and Kevin Love combine for 38 pts on 61% FG in 48 min. – 9:36 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s 129-122 victory over Mavs: sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h…
1. Clutch-time again comes into play.
2. Butler takes control to (mostly) offset Doncic.
3. Still looking like the play-in.
4. Zeller steps in for Adebayo.
5. Love thrives off bench. – 8:09 AM
Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s 129-122 victory over Mavs: sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h…
1. Clutch-time again comes into play.
2. Butler takes control to (mostly) offset Doncic.
3. Still looking like the play-in.
4. Zeller steps in for Adebayo.
5. Love thrives off bench. – 8:09 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Doncic reflects on Dallas’s problems: Always the same thing eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/14… – 4:48 AM
Doncic reflects on Dallas’s problems: Always the same thing eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/14… – 4:48 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Luka Doncic scored 42 points, but Dallas falls short again eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/14… – 3:40 AM
Luka Doncic scored 42 points, but Dallas falls short again eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/14… – 3:40 AM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka Doncic, Mavericks need miracle for play-in after back-breaking loss to Heat dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 11:21 PM
Luka Doncic, Mavericks need miracle for play-in after back-breaking loss to Heat dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 11:21 PM
The Vertical @Balldontlie
Luka drops 42 PTS, but the Mavericks lose to the Heat and are now 1-6 in their last seven games.
Dallas is a full game back of OKC for the 10th spot with four games left, and the Thunder own the tiebreaker. pic.twitter.com/LFJzpSt08A – 10:33 PM
Luka drops 42 PTS, but the Mavericks lose to the Heat and are now 1-6 in their last seven games.
Dallas is a full game back of OKC for the 10th spot with four games left, and the Thunder own the tiebreaker. pic.twitter.com/LFJzpSt08A – 10:33 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Jimmy Butler and the Heat get a key win over Luka and the Mavs
pic.twitter.com/Vb8t6PtVAa – 10:07 PM
Jimmy Butler and the Heat get a key win over Luka and the Mavs
pic.twitter.com/Vb8t6PtVAa – 10:07 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Jimmy Butler’s 35 help Heat survive Luka Doncic’s 42 in 129-122 victory over Mavericks. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 10:05 PM
Jimmy Butler’s 35 help Heat survive Luka Doncic’s 42 in 129-122 victory over Mavericks. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 10:05 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Luka tonight:
42 PTS
10 REB
8 AST
17-25 FG
2nd-straight loss when scoring 40+ points. pic.twitter.com/4oSuhqw3La – 10:02 PM
Luka tonight:
42 PTS
10 REB
8 AST
17-25 FG
2nd-straight loss when scoring 40+ points. pic.twitter.com/4oSuhqw3La – 10:02 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Luka has 40-9-7 on 16-of-22 shooting against a Bam-less Heat team … and Dallas is still losing. Dude is like the Slovenian Mike Trout this year. – 9:48 PM
Luka has 40-9-7 on 16-of-22 shooting against a Bam-less Heat team … and Dallas is still losing. Dude is like the Slovenian Mike Trout this year. – 9:48 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Luka just spamming double circle this whole game with these flashy passes lol – 9:47 PM
Luka just spamming double circle this whole game with these flashy passes lol – 9:47 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Up 18 earlier, Heat go into fourth up 102-96 on Dallas. Butler 26 points, 12 assists for Heat. Doncic 34 points, nine rebounds, seven assists for Mavericks. – 9:24 PM
Up 18 earlier, Heat go into fourth up 102-96 on Dallas. Butler 26 points, 12 assists for Heat. Doncic 34 points, nine rebounds, seven assists for Mavericks. – 9:24 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Nothing wrong with Mavs offense that has, at times, struggled They’re shooting 62.5%, but their defense got carved up by a MIA offense that scores the fewest pts in @NBA. It’s 76-64 at halftime. Luka 23-6-5. Butler 22 pts-7 assts. 2nd half soon @971TheFreak – 8:49 PM
Nothing wrong with Mavs offense that has, at times, struggled They’re shooting 62.5%, but their defense got carved up by a MIA offense that scores the fewest pts in @NBA. It’s 76-64 at halftime. Luka 23-6-5. Butler 22 pts-7 assts. 2nd half soon @971TheFreak – 8:49 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Luka at half:
23 PTS
6 REB
5 AST
10-14 FG
His 12th 20/5/5 half of the season, no one else has more than seven. pic.twitter.com/tOzUOmKlKD – 8:45 PM
Luka at half:
23 PTS
6 REB
5 AST
10-14 FG
His 12th 20/5/5 half of the season, no one else has more than seven. pic.twitter.com/tOzUOmKlKD – 8:45 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat go up 18 in second period, take 76-64 lead into half on Mavericks in their highest-scoring half of season (was 75). Butler with 22 for Heat. Doncic with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists. – 8:41 PM
Heat go up 18 in second period, take 76-64 lead into half on Mavericks in their highest-scoring half of season (was 75). Butler with 22 for Heat. Doncic with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists. – 8:41 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Luka Samanic reunites with Will Hardy to try to right what went wrong in his NBA career deseret.com/2023/4/1/23661… pic.twitter.com/Ti6I55xsu2 – 8:34 PM
Luka Samanic reunites with Will Hardy to try to right what went wrong in his NBA career deseret.com/2023/4/1/23661… pic.twitter.com/Ti6I55xsu2 – 8:34 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat 44 (!), Mavericks 31 after one. Butler with 16 for Heat. Highest-scoring Heat first quarter of season (previous high was 39). Doncic with 13 points, five assists, three rebounds. – 8:09 PM
Heat 44 (!), Mavericks 31 after one. Butler with 16 for Heat. Highest-scoring Heat first quarter of season (previous high was 39). Doncic with 13 points, five assists, three rebounds. – 8:09 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Luka Doncic already with seven points and three assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. with nine points.
Heat trailing 20-12. – 7:48 PM
Luka Doncic already with seven points and three assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. with nine points.
Heat trailing 20-12. – 7:48 PM
Mark Followill @MFollowill
Mavs at Miami about to start on BSSW. Mavs start Luka, Kyrie, Hardaway Jr., Bullock and Powell. Miami’s Bam Adebayo is out meaning Cody Zeller starts at center. Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Max Strus round out their lineup. – 7:33 PM
Mavs at Miami about to start on BSSW. Mavs start Luka, Kyrie, Hardaway Jr., Bullock and Powell. Miami’s Bam Adebayo is out meaning Cody Zeller starts at center. Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Max Strus round out their lineup. – 7:33 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Mavs starters: Hardaway, Bullock, Powell, Irving, Doncic
MIA starters: Strus, Butler, Zeller, Herro, Vincent
6:40 tip @971TheFreak – 6:55 PM
Mavs starters: Hardaway, Bullock, Powell, Irving, Doncic
MIA starters: Strus, Butler, Zeller, Herro, Vincent
6:40 tip @971TheFreak – 6:55 PM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Dallas Mavericks remaining schedule, and 538’s prediction for how it might shake out… Luka is 50 total points behind Embiid for scoring title. And Dallas keeps their pick if it falls 1-10, otherwise Knicks get more trade ammo.
Huge game vs. Atl w/ Play-In vs. tank implications pic.twitter.com/1Bn9duMNJa – 3:16 PM
Dallas Mavericks remaining schedule, and 538’s prediction for how it might shake out… Luka is 50 total points behind Embiid for scoring title. And Dallas keeps their pick if it falls 1-10, otherwise Knicks get more trade ammo.
Huge game vs. Atl w/ Play-In vs. tank implications pic.twitter.com/1Bn9duMNJa – 3:16 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Mavericks’ Luka Doncic says he plans to play for Slovenia against U.S., Spain this summer dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 1:54 PM
Mavericks’ Luka Doncic says he plans to play for Slovenia against U.S., Spain this summer dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 1:54 PM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Luka Doncic was asked if he talked to Dirk Nowitzki about getting inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“No. We talked about tennis yesterday.” pic.twitter.com/4SiNOxTtGE – 12:01 PM
Luka Doncic was asked if he talked to Dirk Nowitzki about getting inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“No. We talked about tennis yesterday.” pic.twitter.com/4SiNOxTtGE – 12:01 PM
More on this storyline
Yet both franchises this season have performed well under expectation. Doncic was asked how the season has played out compared to what the Mavericks were capable of achieving, especially after the February acquisition of Irving. “Way different,” he said. “I thought we were going to be up there. But we obviously aren’t, so it’s way different than I thought.” Does Doncic share Hardaway’s hope that a play-in berth is still salvageable? “Obviously there’s hope, yeah,” he said. “I always say you’ve got to hope to the last moment. You’ve got to believe you can make it, so we’ve got to believe.” -via Dallas Morning News / April 2, 2023
Will the Dallas Mavericks have the next big super team in the NBA? According to Bill Simmons, the answer is yes. Simmons recently predicted that LeBron James and Draymond Green will join Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with the Mavs at some point down the road, per the Bill Simmons podcast, clip via Kenny Bybee. “I think he (Draymond Green) ends up in Dallas with Kyrie and with Luka,” Simmons said on the podcast. “And then LeBron tries to figure out a way to get there eventually. That’s my prediction.” -via Clutch Points / March 30, 2023