The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to qualify for the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Beating a team on the road with an NBA Finals berth on the line was extremely impressive and was made possible by an explosive start from Luka Doncic.
Doncic finished with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-10 from the 3-point line. The 25-year-old guard also had 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 37 minutes of play.
Read more: Dallas Mavericks defeat Timberwolves in Game 5 to advance to NBA Finals: 3 game-changing plays
After the game, Doncic seemed excited after receiving the Western Conference Finals MVP award.
“This means a lot,” Doncic told TNT after the game. “It’s unbelievable to be in the NBA Finals.”
It was no surprise. Doncic averaged 32.4 points per game during the series. After the game, he was hugged by none other than his father, Sasa Doncic.
Doncic’s father, a former professional player himself, has every reason to be proud. The 25-year-old Luka joined the Mavericks in 2018 and is knocking on the door as one of the NBA’s best players. In this season’s playoffs, he proved he can play winning basketball on the biggest stage.
While there are many questions about who will be the next “face of the league,” Doncic’s case is very compelling given all he’s accomplished since entering the NBA: He had a dominant early season and the Mavericks have built a complete team around him that is now enjoying postseason success.
After defeating three of the top five teams in the regular season — the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves — the Mavericks will face their final tough opponent of the season, the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics went 64-18 in the regular season and cruised to the Finals with ease. They have a rock-solid defense and talented players up and down the starting lineup that, when healthy, will be a formidable opponent for Doncic and the Mavericks.
Read more: Boston Celtics beat Dallas Mavericks to become overwhelming favorites to win 2024 NBA Finals
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