Luka Doncic drops 35 points as Mavs blow out Clippers in Game 5

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Luka Doncic’s flu game gives the Dallas Mavericks a road win and 3-2 lead over the LA Clippers #NBAPlayoffs
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/16… – 4:33 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Sick? Sore knee? Nobody could tell as Luke Doncic scores 35, leads Mavericks to Game 5 win vs. Clippers
nbcsports.com/nba/news/sick-… – 2:17 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Seeing and hearing how sick Luka Doncic was this morning, I would have bet that the Mavs would be back here for Game 7.
Now I think it’s far more likely that the Clippers just played their last game in this arena. pic.twitter.com/cjAKVa0Rov – 2:16 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Neither Paul George nor James Harden attempted a midrange FG (non-paint 2) in Game 5 vs Mavericks
Luka/Kyrie combined to make 3/6 midrange FGs – 1:40 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
3-point shooting tonight in Game 5
Luka/Kyrie: 3/15
Their teammates: 11/24
PG/Harden: 3/13
Their teammates: 6/22 – 1:39 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Luka Doncic making history with a flu and a knee sprain 🥵 pic.twitter.com/9ncckVaBab – 1:30 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Luka DONCIC led the Dallas Mavericks to the win against LAC tonight 🥶
📊 35 PTS, 10 AST & 7 REB
pic.twitter.com/Gdt5qmD3aq – 1:18 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
NBA playoffs: Mavericks crush Clippers as Luka Doncic shines and James Harden disappears, Celtics oust Heat
(By @ColinCBSSports)
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-p… – 1:11 AM

BasketNews @BasketNews_com
When a foul like this isn’t enough to stop Luka Doncic from scoring…😲
pic.twitter.com/7FSMK4suFa – 1:07 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka Doncic, sick and injured? Mavericks star’s Game 5 vs. Clippers was best of series dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 12:58 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic speaks. For the record, he’s still sniffling, said he put the illness and injury out of mind. pic.twitter.com/7SZm6IjqLd – 12:39 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka Doncic leaves the court, followed by Mavericks majority shareholder Miriam Adelson. pic.twitter.com/yymssPZ6xp – 12:30 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Luka Doncic went to WORK in the Mavericks’ Game 5 win 😤 pic.twitter.com/vHqFyZZLN2 – 12:29 AM

Michael Dugat @mdug
Awesome win.
Great to see Luka bounce back so well. – 12:27 AM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Final: #Mavs 123, #Clippers 93.
Dallas takes a commanding 3-2 lead in the series, one win from meeting the Thunder in the second round. Game 6 is Friday at American Airlines Center.
Doncic scores 35 pts with 7 rebs and 10 asts. – 12:26 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Luka and the Mavs take Game 5 in LA 😤 pic.twitter.com/ItEfEK8VfE – 12:26 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Luka Doncic is the only player in NBA history to average 8+ RPG and 8+ APG in the playoffs.
He is also second all-time in playoff PPG. statmuse.com/nba/player/luk… – 12:21 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Maxi Kleber tonight:
15 PTS
5-7 3P
+17
Only Luka has more playoff games with 5+ threes in Mavericks history. statmuse.com/nba/player/max… – 12:18 AM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Playing sick and on a sprained knee, Luka Doncic (34-7-10) had his best performance of the series to lead the Mavs to a blowout in pivotal Game 5. Doncic takes a seat with 5:39 left and Dallas up four touchdowns. – 12:16 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Luka tonight:
35 PTS
7 REB
10 AST
+30
Flu game. pic.twitter.com/MNSdZTk3Mw – 12:16 AM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka done for the night with 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Mavericks are up 104-75 with 5:39 to go. Bring on Game 6 Friday at AAC. – 12:16 AM

Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
Doncic doppelgänger along the baseline. pic.twitter.com/lkzv3mXJIW – 12:03 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Disastrous 3rd quarter for the Clippers. Complete inability to score, and Luka Doncic packed them up for 14 points and 3 dimes.
It’s an 89-69 Mavericks lead. – 11:56 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Paul George finds a little offensive rhythm going late but Clippers enter fourth down 89-69 despite just 9 points from Kyrie Irving. Kleber and Jones combining for 27 points has been a backbreaker for Clips. Luka Doncic with 29-8-7 entering fourth. – 11:54 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
End of the 3rd quarter: #Mavs 89, #Clippers 69.
Doncic: 29 pts, 7 rebs, 8 asts
Kleber: 15 pts, 3 rebs (5-7 3PT)
Jones: 12 pts, 3 rebs, 3 blks – 11:53 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Doncic smiles as he knocks down his first 3 of the night with 2:18 left in the 3rd. He missed six attempts before that. – 11:49 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
17-2 Mavericks run
73-50 Mavericks lead
And Mavericks have made only 6 3s for the game, 0/10 from Doncic/Irving, and they’re leading like this.
George/Harden have 14 points on 4/18 FGs.
4:44 left in 3rd quarter. A 5:45 LAC field goal drought, 4:04 LAC scoring drought. – 11:43 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
What a sequence. Kyrie passed the ball to Luka, but it look like Westbrook hip-checked Doncic. No call. Irving got the ball back and passed to a cutting Jones for an and-1 dunk. – 11:41 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Dallas is up by 19 midway through the third and Doncic appears to smell blood. He’s going to the line again. – 11:39 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Luka Doncic – 10-of-19
Paul George + James Harden – 4-of-18
Mavs up 69-50 midway through the 3rd Q – 11:39 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Luka Doncic rn pic.twitter.com/VNn47XRPJS – 11:38 PM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
Hey @CuffsTheLegend are you watching Luka and these Mavs slide those puppies?!!! Carry the hell on… – 11:38 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
After scoring with the foul, Luka Doncic stopped over by Terance Mann to check and see if Mann is OK after he hit the floor following a screen. – 11:38 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Jason Kidd and the rest of his coaching staff is fired up after that last defensive possession by the Mavs. Dallas forced a shot clock violation and Luka converted on a 3-point play on the other end. – 11:37 PM

Mark Followill @MFollowill
With the 15 points that Luka scored in the first half he has moved into 3rd in Mavs history in playoff points.
Dirk – 3663
Jason Terry – 1466
Luka Doncic – 1042
Ro Blackman – 1039
Mark Aguirre – 1035 – 11:34 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Doncic in the midrange
8-2 Mavericks run
64-50 Mavericks lead
Largest of the game for Mavericks with 7:16 left in 3rd quarter
George and Harden haven’t been able to get any buckets in this 2nd half. Two days off and at home is a bad spot to have no juice – 11:33 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic is running hot and I’m not talking about his upper-respiratory illness. – 11:28 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Mavericks are taking the 3s away from LA
3 makes is awful but 15 attempts isn’t enough anyway.
How they go about creating better looks is LA’s challenge.
Luka, Kyrie, PG, Harden all can be more efficient. But Luka has as many FG attempts as PG and Harden combined. – 11:21 PM

Sean Highkin @highkin
Chuck just called Luka “Luda” – 11:13 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers down 10 at half at home in a game where Luka and Kyrie have 21 points on 22 shots and are 0/8 from 3
Kleber missed the whole basket on one of his 3s but he’s 4/6 overall, while everyone else on both teams is 4/30. – 11:11 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Halftime: #Mavs 56, #Clippers 46.
Doncic: 15 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts
Kleber: 12 pts, 2 rebs
Gafford: 8 pts, 2 rebs
Ivica Zubac: 13 pts, 2 rebs, 2 sats – 11:09 PM

Jeff Wade @SkinWade
Fantastic defense in that 2nd quarter. Huge half for Maxi and DJJ – both stepping up. And Luka exactly halfway to a 30/10/10 night. Epic stuff – 11:08 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
At halftime, Mavericks are up 56-46 with Luka having 15-5-6. Maxi Kleber has nailed four three-pointers in six tries. – 11:07 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Clippers down 56-46 at half to Mavs. Ivcia Zubac has 13 points, Terance Mann 11. Luka Doncic has 15 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds for Dallas. – 11:07 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Risky Mavericks lineup:
Doncic, Irving OFF
Green, Kleber, Jones, Washington, Gafford
And… Clippers in bonus last 3:04 of 1st half – 10:56 PM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
When even a good foul vs Doncic is not enough 🤯
pic.twitter.com/90H74dvYKw – 10:51 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Mavs lead 41-35 with 6:33 left in the first half. Doncic leads all scorers with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. – 10:45 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Jumbo Mavs lineup: Doncic, Green, Kleber, Washington, Lively – 10:44 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Mavs winning the non-Luka minutes, albeit brief, definitely a small victory. – 10:41 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic is itching to get back in, motioned to the coaches, but Dudley said “not yet.” – 10:39 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Luka played the entire first quarter. – 10:35 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Clippers down 25-24 to Mavs end of first. Ivica Zubac leads Clippers with 8 points. Luka Doncic leads Mavs with 8 points, 4 rebounds – 10:33 PM

Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
Mavs 25, Clips 24 | End 1 | Another close one: Zu leading LA with eight on 4-4 shooting. Luka leading Dallas with eight on 4-9 shooting … Mavs are 1-10 from deep; Clips: 3-8. – 10:33 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
End of the 1st quarter: #Mavs 25, #Clippers 24.
Doncic: 8 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts
Jones: 7 pts, 1 reb, 2 blks
Lively: 4 pts, 5 rebs
Irving: 4 pts, 3 asts – 10:32 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Doncic picks up foul No. 2 on an inadvertent trip of Zubac. He stays in the game with Mavs leading 25-24 with 1:14 to go in the quarter. – 10:30 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The Clippers starting lineup has been on the floor for the entire 1st quarter until the 1:20 mark.
Also… Luka Doncic is in foul trouble. – 10:28 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Doncic just picked up his second foul in the first quarter for the second consecutive game. – 10:28 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Two fouls on Doncic. Second time he’s been called for tripping. – 10:28 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Awesome on-point three-quarter court pass from Luka to Derrick Jones Jr. for the slam. Mavs and Clippers tied at 23. – 10:27 PM

Eric Patten @EricPatten
Luka isn’t playing well because of his knee and he’s been sick. Terance Mann has nothing to do with it apparently – 10:23 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Mavs lead 14-13 with 6:58 left in the first quarter. Irving and Doncic both have four points and have combined for 4-5 shooting. – 10:17 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Had concerns when Luka Doncic’s first shot, a three-pointer, clanged off the front of the rim. But he since has made two midrange buckets and the Mavericks are up 14-13. Currently challenging an offensive foul on Dereck Lively II. – 10:16 PM

J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
dear god that luka fade
made that look way too easy – 10:15 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic 2-for-2 in mid-range is a promising early sign. – 10:14 PM

Janis Carr @janiscarr
Doncic picked up his first foul less than two minutes into Game 5. – 10:11 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Luka Doncic was just called for his first foul of the game. He was defending Paul George. – 10:10 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
STARTERS 5/1
LAC
Amir Coffey
Paul George
Ivica Zubac
Terance Mann
James Harden
DAL
Derrick Jones Jr.
P.J. Washington
Daniel Gafford
Kyrie Irving
Luka Doncic – 9:38 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
J-Kidd on Luka (part 2): “Everyone’s different. Some can play with the flu. Some can play with colds. Some it does effect. He’s banged up. His teammates and coaches have to help him through this. As much as he’s helped us get to where we are, we got to help him through this.” – 9:37 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Jason Kidd on Luka’s right knee (part 1): “He’s going to give it a shot. We’ll figure out how to get him some rest with timeouts (and substitutions). Hopefully he’s feeling better and we’ll see how he feels as the game goes on.” – 9:36 PM

Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Mavs starters: Jones, Washington, Gafford, Irving, Doncic
LAC starters: Coffey, George, Zubac, Mann, Harden
9:08 tip @LoneStar925 – 9:35 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Starting lineups for Game 5
Mavericks: Doncic, Irving, Jones, Washington, Gafford
LAC: Harden, Mann, Coffey, George, Zubac – 9:31 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Luka Doncic has emerged for his pregame routine. He has extra padding over that right knee. pic.twitter.com/lLVnmGVCts – 9:07 PM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
Y’all can get fooled by that Luka is sick and not feeling well BS. That man about to try and go at the Clippers neck tonight – 8:59 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Kidd speaks about Doncic. pic.twitter.com/EFcnRW0OxF – 8:38 PM

Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
J-Kidd. Hat facing forward today.
Says Mavs will be monitoring Luka (knee, congestion): “Some can play with the flu, with colds… some it does affect. I hope it doesn’t affect him; he’s banged up but this time of the year, everyone is…” pic.twitter.com/1gIyaqx4fu – 8:37 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Mavs coach Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic: “Hopefully he’s feeling better. We’ll see how he feels as the game goes on.” – 8:35 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Jason Kidd says that Luka Doncic is going to have to be managed tonight in Game 5 pic.twitter.com/Ji0PyL3ZFk – 8:35 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Doncic talks about his maladies and says he’s ready to go tonight in Game 5, albeit at something less than 100 percent.
mavs.com/lukahealthupda… – 2:48 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka Doncic still has significant knee, congestion issues entering pivotal Game 5 dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 2:34 PM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Trying to keep my boost streak alive with this parlay…
Mavs -2.5
Luka 30+ points
I like the Mavs with a big Luka bounce-back game tonight. Boosting that to +180 on @FDSportsbook. Or, you can use my 30% Profit Boost Token on a diff wager (claim it on FD’s home page). pic.twitter.com/2WP6xtHF8X – 2:12 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic is still sick, didn’t do much in shootaround. He has been sick for nearly a week and admits that if this was a regular season game he probably wouldn’t play. pic.twitter.com/tTmK8oeJXs – 1:54 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Luka Doncic, when asked by @espn_macmahon if his right knee sprain was an injury he’d play through if it was the regular season:
“Probably not.” – 1:54 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Doncic at shootaround when asked if he would be playing in the regular season with the sprained knee he is dealing with: “Probably not.” – 1:54 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Luka Doncic says his sprained right knee is “not great, but it is what it is.” Would he be playing if this was the regular season? “Probably not.” – 1:54 PM

Tim Cato @tim_cato
Luka, asked if he’d be playing through his knee injury if this was the regular season, says “probably not” – 1:53 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
“Fresh Cut” Luka Doncic. pic.twitter.com/hA3LT4Q0Uc – 1:45 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Whether it’s Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic going from slow to slower or Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from 100 mph to slamming on the brakes, the decel step is a devastating weapon for elite NBA scorers. ESPN story: espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 1:36 PM

Mark Followill @MFollowill
ICYMI – injury status for the two teams tonight for Game 5. Jason Kidd yesterday noted that Luka is playing with a “sprain” but did everything in practice. There was a possibility for Hardaway to return but he tweaked his ankle during a post practice scrimmage and is out. pic.twitter.com/XVjbOoUkp2 – 11:59 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Highest +/- in each series:
+74 — J-Dub
+62 — Gobert
+50 — Jrue
+48 — Embiid
+46 — Portis
+42 — Franz
+32 — Luka
+24 — MPJ pic.twitter.com/RGaongUqiA – 10:24 AM