Luka Doncic Rewrites the Mavs’ NBA Finals History Books by Surpassing Dirk Nowitzki

Luka Doncic Surpasses Dirk NowitzkiLuka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki (Image Source: Getty Images)
After going down 3-0, the Dallas Mavericks flipped the script in Game 4, showing their abilities. They subdued the Boston Celtics’ dreams of bagging the 18th championship trophy by forcing them to return for the fifth game. However, much credit goes to their star, Luka Doncic, whose elite performance brought the Mavs back on track and earned him a historic feat.

Doncic knew he had to set the bar high from the first quarter, so it would become problematic for the Celtics to chase. Although he came under scrutiny for his poor defense, there is no doubt about the guard’s offensive abilities, and Doncic proved it again on Friday night by scoring 25 points in the opening half. With his massive contribution in the first half, Doncic now imprinted his name at the top of the Mavericks’ Finals history book by surpassing franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki’s 24-point record in the 2011 NBA Finals.

The Mavs established their dominance from the beginning of the game and continued it throughout. They outscored the Celtics in all four quarters and ended the night with a 122-84 victory.

Kyrie Irving stepped up for the team again, adding 21 points, four rebounds, and six assists to the win. Moreover, Dereck Lively II also displayed a phenomenal performance, chipping in 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Doncic kept setting new records.

Night of Records for Luka Doncic in Mavs Win

Luka Doncic unleashed his beasts and went all in for what could have been the Mavericks’ last game in the NBA Finals series. The 5-time All-Star guard finished with 29 points, three steals, five rebounds, and assists each by shooting 12/26 from the floor.

What was more impressive was the 25 points Doncic added to the scoreboard by the end of the first half. With this achievement, he joined teammate Kyrie Irving (2017) and NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon (1986) to become the third-youngest player in the history of the league to score 25 points or more in the opening half of an NBA Finals game at 25 years or less.

The Mavericks must win all three games to bring home the championship. However, a slip in any game would end their hopes, giving the Celtics their 18th trophy. The Mavs must now visit the TD Garden to face the Cs for Game 5 on Monday.

“People Forget He’s a Rookie”- Luka Doncic Eases Expectations on Dereck Lively II Following Game 4 Performance

Luka Doncic praises Dereck Lively II Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks had the last opportunity to remain in the NBA Finals, and they made the most of it by snatching a 122-84 win in Game 4 over the Boston Celtics. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving mostly looked after the offense. However, they needed a third player who would come through to make an impact. The player was none other than Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II. His outstanding performance earned him praise from the franchise’s superstar.

During the post-game press conference, Doncic’s face lit up when asked to share his thoughts about Lively. Praising his teammate for the double-double contribution, the Slovenian said, “I think people forget he’s a rookie doing this stuff. He’s been amazing the whole season, just watching him grow has been unbelievable.”

Friday night was the first time since mid-November last year that Lively attempted a shot from behind the 3-point arc. But when Doncic passed him the ball, the 7-foot-1 center could hold himself back and shot a marvelous bucket from the deep. He finished the night with 11 points and 12 rebounds by shooting 4-of-5 from the floor.

However, his on-court performance helped the Mavs maintain their supremacy in the game, and his off-court actions also benefitted the team.