Luka Doncic makes history, scoring a series-high 35 points in the victory last night… See more…
Hobbled by an unspecified right knee injury, the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic clearly hasn’t been his usual dominant self in this first-round playoff series — not up to his standards in past games against the Clippers, regular season and playoffs.
After Los Angeles’ 116-111 victory on Sunday afternoon in American Airlines Center, tying the series at 2-2, Doncic’s drop-off is most glaringly reflected in his statistics. He is shooting 38.6% from the field, including of 13-of-49 (26.5%) on 3-pointers.
Doncic’s defensive falloff has occurred since he sustained the knee injury during the first quarter of Game 3. He was whistled for two fouls in the first 2:23 of Game 4 as he struggled to stay in front of Clippers attackers, a pattern that continued throughout the game as Los Angeles hunted him.
“It’s hurting, obviously, but it shouldn’t be an excuse, man,” Doncic said. “We just came out a little sloppy. We’ve got to do way better than that.”
It might seem like quibbling after a game in which Doncic had a triple-double — 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. But anyone who has watched Doncic throughout his career, this season especially, knows he isn’t his usual self.
On Sunday he shot 10-of-24 from the field, including 1-of-9 on 3-pointers.
