Luka Doncic, known for being one of the NBA’s premier offensive players, showcased an impressive defensive performance last night as well.
Luka Doncic’s 32 points, nine assists, and six rebounds led the Dallas Mavericks to a 96:93 win in Los Angeles, where they made a breakthrough in the series against the Clippers, evening it at 1-1 in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
But what the mere glance at the statistics doesn’t reveal is Doncic’s contribution in the aspect of the game for which he has been criticized throughout his career. Although he has improved his defense this season, last night’s game was the culmination of that progress as he alternated on future Hall of Famers and consistently shut them down.
Through Luka Doncic, the Clippers shot 2-17
A common strategy of NBA teams for years has been to target Doncic defensively, aggressively seeking ways to keep him matched up against the player attacking the basket. However, last night, the Slovenian did a masterful job, forcing the Clippers players into mistakes and difficult shots possession after possession. According to ESPN’s statistics, the home team hit only two of 17 shots when Luka Doncic was their primary defender.
Specifically, James Harden made one three-pointer against him and missed all four other shots. He also guarded Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and even Ivica Zubac, but the only other player who managed to score was reserve guard Amir Coffey.
The series now moves to Dallas, where the next two games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday. These two teams have already met twice in the playoffs during Doncic’s era in Dallas, and both times the Clippers narrowly emerged victorious (4-2 and 4-3) despite Doncic’s brilliant performances.