As they sat next to each other at the podium during Saturday’s postgame news conference after closing out the Oklahoma City Thunder in six
games in the Western Conference semifinals, Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving discussed the close bond they’ve developed in the 15 months since they became teammates.
When the 2023 trade brought Irving to the Mavs, there were so many so-called basketball experts who said it wouldn’t work. They claimed that both Dončić and Irving needed the ball to be successful, and that this franchise would be stagnant as long as both players were on this roster as teammates.
Well, the Mavs – and their upcoming appearance in the Western Conference Finals in the first full season with Dončić and Irving as teammates – blew the doors off that argument. And Irving knows why.
“I just think this guy next to me has pushed me to continue to work on my game and continue to develop as a young leader,” Irving said. “I think the big word that we both can agree on is just maturity.
“Coming into Dallas I was dealing with a lot – mentality, spiritually, emotionally – and they embraced me with open arms. I don’t have a perfect journey, so coming into this environment I wasn’t sure how we were going to work out on the court. But off the court I knew eventually that I would get him to open up.”
Dončić has been known to be ball-dominant. Some of it was out of necessity, because he knew with his skill set he could get the job done.
But when Irving arrived, Dončić knew the new kid on the block also had some exceptional skills. And he also knew Irving was the guy who hit the series-clinching shot in Game 7 on the road when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA title over the Golden State Warriors.
So, when Irving talked, Dončić respectfully listened. And vice-versa.
“When (Irving) came, (he was) nothing but supportive for everything I did, everything we did,” Dončić said. “He just helped me mature a lot, and (helped me) realize to see the game in a different way.
“And obviously on the court it’s amazing to play with a guy like him. The leader he’s been for us — not just for me, but for us — he’s been amazing. (He) always (has) positive energy.”
After the Mavs fell behind OKC, 64-48, at halftime, Dončić and Irving used their positive energy to help galvanize their team. Together, they combined to score or assist on 57 of the 69 points the Mavs scored in the second half as
Dallas eventually eked out a 117-116 victory over the Thunder.
When it was all said and done, Irving paid homage to Dončić, who has been the Mavs’ emotional leader.
“This guy is a big teddy bear at times off the court,” Irving said. “(He’s a) big competitor.
“He’s still ducking me in dominoes. But I think at times I just have to sit back and marvel at his talent and his ability to get outside his comfort zone.”
Dončić finished Saturday’s game with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals and was 4-of-6 from three-point land, while Irving added 22 points and was 4-of-10 from downtown.
Here are the three takeaways from the Mavs’ one-point victory over the Thunder.
*Kudos to Mavs forward P.J. Washington, who couldn’t stay on the court because of foul problems, but wound up being the center of attention when the game was on the line. And, boy did he deliver in the clutch. Washington only had one field goal attempt – and no points — through three quarters. But there he was, standing at the free throw line with just 2.5 seconds remaining, staring at three free throws attempts with the game on the line, and with the Mavs trailing, 116-115. Washington buried the first two free throws to give the Mavs the lead. Then, since OKC was out of timeouts, he intentionally missed the third free throw so the Thunder wouldn’t have time to get off a decent potential game-winning shot. “I think he was just waiting for his moment,” guard Kyrie Irving said. “He played well the majority of the series, so we had some confidence in him that he would make some big-time shots, and I’m grateful that he knocked them down. That’s just pure confidence and belief.”
*In helping the Mavs advance to the conference finals for the sixth time in franchise history, Luka Dončić collected 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It marked the third straight triple-double for Dončić. Wilt Chamberlain, Draymond Green, Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic are the only
other players with at least three consecutive triple-doubles in the playoffs. Overall, Dončić now has seven triple-doubles in the playoffs during his career – one less than Oscar Robertson. Dončić also was 7-for-7 from the free throw line. That’s the first time – with at least six attempts – that he’s registered a perfect shooting percentage from the charity stripe in the playoffs.
*When it came to effort, the Mavs were all about dominating the boards on Saturday. Led by rookie center Dereck Lively II, the Mavs out-rebounded the Thunder by a massive 47-31 margin. Lively led the way with 15 boards, while Luka Dončić grabbed 10 rebounds, Daniel Gafford dragged down seven and Washington collected five. The Mavs also enjoyed a 14-7 advantage on the offensive boards, leading them to outscore OKC, 27-8, in second-chance points. Also, with his 12 points, Lively joined Robert Parish and Charles Barkley as the only rookies since the 1970-71 season to register back-to-back double-doubles while coming off the bench.
X: @DwainPrice
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