DALLAS — Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a 105-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 on Saturday, despite visibly struggling with an injury. This gave them a decisive series lead of 2 wins and 1 loss.
Doncic has been battling a lingering right knee sprain since scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the first round of the playoffs, telling reporters after the game that “everything” hurts, expressing his unwavering determination to lead his team to victory. Indicated. He was listed as questionable on his injury report due to a sprained knee, but also entered the game with soreness in his left ankle.
“I'm out there fighting,” Doncic said. “I'm glad I won. I just have to fight.”
Doncic's physical limitations were evident throughout the game. At the last moment he fell hard on his coccyx and twisted his knee, after which he winced in pain.
“When I separated two defenders on the last play, obviously no one touched me,” Doncic said sarcastically. “I hurt my knee again, but I'm just trying to go out there and fight. We got the win. That's all that matters.”
Fortunately, Doncic's teammates rallied around him and made key contributions to secure the victory. Kyrie Irving added 22 points and 7 assists, and PJ Washington continued his great performance with 27 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Thunder to victory. Derek Lively II also played a key role, considering his 52.6% free throw percentage (including playoffs) as Oklahoma City turned to a “Hack-A-Lively” approach and trailed 4-4 in the final stages. He made 8 to 12 free throws, including a . .
The Mavericks' physical play and rebounding advantage were decisive, allowing them to overcome Doncic's limited mobility. But regardless of how the match is played out, the team is ready to adapt to a nuanced approach as well.
“I think we've enjoyed playing physical since March,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Oklahoma City was a really good team, they were physical. If you're physical, we're happy to respond. Maybe it wasn't like that in the past, but this is a different team. This team is physical. It's built with that in mind, so if you need to pivot and show some finesse, you can.”
Although there are growing concerns about Doncic's injury, his unwavering dedication to playing through pain is an inspiration to his teammates.
“Someone's got to pick him up,” Kidd said of Doncic. “And it's not just Kai. It's the other guys that Timmy did great things for us. Josh was huge for us off the bench as well. That's the beauty of the sport. Yes, it's a team. This is more than just a player and a caddy.
“This is a group that believes that if someone is injured, they will come for us. Luka is injured, but he is doing everything he can to put the team in a position to win.” Kid explained.
Despite his physical issues, Doncic remains determined to lead the Mavericks to a Game 4 and series victory and return to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons.
“We haven't accomplished anything,” Doncic said. “We have to stay hungry.”
The series moves to Game 4 on Monday, and the Mavericks will rely on their collective strength to overcome the physical strain of the playoffs.
read more: Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks lead the series over the OKC Thunder, 2-1.
read more: PJ Washington steps up for Dallas Mavericks when needed most
read more: Dallas Mavericks beat OKC Thunder in Game 3: 3 game-changing plays
continue mavericks game day For more Dallas Mavericks coverage throughout the NBA playoffs
