Luka Doncic Leads Mavericks to Pivotal Game 5 Win vs. Thunder

The 2024 NBA Playoffs have been a struggle at times for Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. He was battling an illness in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers and a sprained knee that would have sidelined him for regular season games.

Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he added a sore left ankle to the injury report. On top of all the injuries, Luka Doncic was also facing off against a team with multiple players to throw at him throughout the night, which was frustrating enough.

In the Mavericks’ Game 4 loss, Oklahoma City held Luka Doncic in check and spent a lot of time complaining to the referees. He made it a point to not engage with them as much in Game 5 and stuck to that, as all of his energy and effort was spent on the court helping his team win.

“Just focus on basketball,” Doncic said after Dallas’s Game 5 win. “Remember the thing I love, the thing I love to do. Just play basketball.”

When the Mavericks needed him most, Luka Doncic responded. In a pivotal Game 5, where the winner more often than not goes on to advance, he had the best game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Doncic scored 31 points, and most importantly, did it efficiently. He was 12-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. 11 assists, 10 rebounds and one block completed a very impressive stat line.

That is the third 30-point triple-double of his career in the postseason, and it could not have come at a better time. Momentum killing plays were provided throughout the night, as he was determined to lead his team to victory.

He now has the Mavericks one game away from returning to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons. Game 6 will provide them a chance to close things out, at home, on Saturday night.