Category: Luka Doncic

Mavericks Advance to NBA Finals After Routing Timberwolves in Game 5
31 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Mavericks Advance to NBA Finals After Routing Timberwolves in Game 5

The stage is officially set for the 2024 NBA Finals, as the Dallas Mavericks managed to close out the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

The Mavs' 124–103 win lifts the team to its first championship appearance since 2011, and there was never really a doubt for most of the contest after a dominant start from Luka Dončić, who scored 20 points in the first quarter.

As has been the case all playoffs long, Dallas put the ball into the hands of its tandem of star guards, Dončić and Kyrie Irving, and let them go to work. The two combined for 72 points in Thursday's series-clinching win and were tied for the game-high in scoring with 36 points apiece.

The Mavericks' other starters and role players lived up to their end of the billing, too, providing quality work on the glass and making life difficult for the Timberwolves offensively. Daniel Gafford's plus-minus of +27 was the highest in the game, and he and Dereck Lively II didn't miss a single field goal attempt between them (6-for-6) while combining for 17 rebounds.

In 17 games during the playoffs, Dončić is averaging 28.7 points per game as he’s helped guide the Mavs, who entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the West, through the conference gauntlet. He's now set for the first NBA Finals appearance of his career, where a showdown against the Boston Celtics awaits.

Game 1 is set for next Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. EST from the TD Garden in Boston, Mass.

Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Finals
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Luka Doncic’s NSFW Exchange With T-Wolves Fan in Game 5 Left Snoop Dogg Stunned
31 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Luka Doncic’s NSFW Exchange With T-Wolves Fan in Game 5 Left Snoop Dogg Stunned

The Dallas Mavericks were not going to be stopped in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the tandem of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving was dialed in offensively Thursday during what, barring a historic comeback, will be the closeout game of the Western Conference finals.

Holding a massive lead in the third quarter, Dončić wasn't shying away from hecklers in the crowd at the Target Center in Minneapolis. After making a difficult shot and drawing a foul at the basket, the 25-year-old could be overheard on the TNT broadcast clapping back at one of the hecklers.

"Yeah! Who's crying, motherf––er?" shouted Dončić, fired up after his and-one.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that the fan to whom Dončić responded was making a crying baby gesture toward the Mavs guard.

Snoop Dogg was sitting courtside at the Target Center and he had a front row seat to the highlight-reel play and the eye-opening exchange that followed. Needless to say, he was loving the intensity and looked utterly stunned by what Dončić was doing.

At that point in the game, Dončić and Irving were nearly outscoring the Timberwolves as a duo, and the star guard was letting the opposing fan base hear it while dominating and ensuring their season would end on their own court.

Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, Snoop Dogg
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Timberwolves Coach Throws Shade at Mavericks, Refs Before Game 5
31 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Timberwolves Coach Throws Shade at Mavericks, Refs Before Game 5

Just about 90 minutes before the opening tipoff of Game 5, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch made sure to point out an issue he has with the Dallas Mavericks and the officials working the Western Conference finals.

Finch was asked by The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski what he would like to see Anthony Edwards do better while guarding Mavericks star Luka Dončić in Game 5.

"He does a better job getting through all those illegal screens they set for Luka," Finch said.

Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who was named to the All-NBA Defensive second team this season, primarily handled the matchup against Dončić over the first three games of the series. But the Wolves swapped the assignment in Game 4, switching McDaniels over to Kyrie Irving and putting Edwards on Dončić.

Dončić averaged 32.7 points over the first three games of the series and scored 28 in Game 4, but Edwards had noticeably more energy on the offensive end while not having to chase Irving around on defense.

Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Mavericks is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday at Target Center.

Anthony Edwards, Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Luka Dončić Recreated Iconic Meme During Mavericks' Win Over Clippers
4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Luka Dončić Recreated Iconic Meme During Mavericks’ Win Over Clippers

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić went viral during Friday night's Game 6 of the Western Conference first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers when his stare down of James Harden harkened a throwback to his iconic meme of staring down Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.

The original stare down of Dončić and Booker took place in Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference semifinals when the Mavericks were blowing out the Suns. On Friday night, with the game well in hand, Dončić had a conversation with Harden in which the meme was recreated on social media.

NBA fans couldn't help but relish in the recreation of the iconic basketball moment on social media. Here are some of the best reactions to the clip after the Mavericks advanced to the second round and sent the Clippers home packing.

Clippers, James Harden, Luka Doncic, Mavericks
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