Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the world, but he’s also one of the most annoying. That’s because he’s long been known for bitching at refs for entire games, which has often been to the detriment of his team. There are so many times where he’s let his emotions get the better of him, and then found himself lagging on defense because he’s busy complaining.
Well, it seems like he learned his lesson, at least for one night. In Game 5 of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, Doncic decided to simply let his game do the talking, which caught everyone, including the announcers covering the game, off guard.
Doncic was reflective after securing the win. If his words are to be taken at face value, then it may be a dangerous time for the Thunder. A locked in Luka whose focus is entirely on Game 6 is going to be a difficult opponent to beat.
Doncic had a phenomenal game even by his standards, finishing with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and a block while shooting 12 of 22 overall and making 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. That kind of performance is something we’ve gotten used to, but considering that a series lead was at stake, just makes one appreciate his game even more.
The Mavericks now have a chance to seal a second trip to the Western Conference Finals in the last three seasons if they can win the next game in front of their home fans. If Doncic maintains his composure like he did today, they’ve got an excellent chance of doing that.
Luka makes everyone around him better when he’s at his best. He also now has a supporting cast that fits his skillset very well, and the Thunder will have to worry now considering they lost Game 5 even though Kyrie Irving only scored 12 points in 39 minutes. Derrick Jones Jr. helped pick up some of the slack with 19 points of 7 of 9 shooting, while Derrick Lively and PJ Washington also scored in double digits. If Irving gets it going in Game 6, then there’s little the Thunder will be able to do to stay in the series.
