LeBron James got away with a travel. Then Luka Doncic made him travel to double overtime.
With the Dallas Mavericks trailing 101-98 at the end of regulation, Luka Doncic stepped back and hit a game-tying three-pointer over Dennis Schroder.
LUKA DONCIC STEPS BACK TO FORCE OVERTIME ON TNT! pic.twitter.com/3QVewPeIgy
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2023
Doncic's big shot came after a controversial final minute of play. First, LeBron James appeared to get away with a travel when he jumped and landed holding the ball.
This LeBron James play was called a jump ball.
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) January 13, 2023
Foul, jump ball, or travel? pic.twitter.com/Y6oCrEPQkY
The referees ultimately decided it was a jump ball, which Spencer Dinwiddie improbably won over James.
One possession later, Dallas fouled Russell Westbrook, but the officials ruled it was on Schroder. Dallas coach Jason Kidd challenged the foul call, but only so the officials would review the play, uphold the foul call, but send the correct Laker to the foul line. This strategy was successful, except that Westbrook made both free throws, part of his 28 points. That set up Doncic's big shot.
It wasn't his only game-tying shot. With 47 seconds left, Doncic made a three to tie the game at 108.
Luka Doncic ties it again! pic.twitter.com/gNw7sNV8xD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 13, 2023
These would be the last points of the first overtime, after Christian Wood blocked James as time ran out, one of his five blocks, and three in the two overtimes.
First, he stuffed Russell Westbrook, seconds after jamming his ankle.
Christian Wood hurts his ankle with the clutch block on Russ pic.twitter.com/EHAjVJysOG
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) January 13, 2023
After a timeout, Wood stayed in the game and blocked James again.
Christian Wood stays in the game and comes up with the HUGE block on LeBron pic.twitter.com/WxzHUtHssi https://t.co/AWQtCViRnU
— ' (@_Talkin_NBA) January 13, 2023
It was a tough performance for Wood, who wasn't starting or closing games earlier this season because his defense wasn't good enough. Now he's doing both, and Dallas is 9-3 in their last 12 games.
It was also a tenacious for Doncic, who played a whopping 53 minutes, including the final 40:52 of the game.
Luka Doncic has played 48 minutes and hasn’t had a break since midway through the second quarter as this game goes to the second OT. Doncic has a 33-14-13 line.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 13, 2023
Dallas won, Doncic played well in the clutch, and Wood is emerging as a possible long-term sidekick for the Mavericks' young superstar. The only negative is that owner Mark Cuban is definitely going to get a fine for criticizing the officials.
Stan van gundy is absolutely right. Worst officiated game. Luka gets no respect. Unreal.
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 13, 2023
A Shark like Cuban should know that while Doncic is money in crunch time, ripping the refs is a guaranteed way to lose money. Besides, Luka is getting plenty of respect after what he did tonight.
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