‘I’m still learning’ – Mavericks’ Luka Doncic reflective after scoring 40 points in Game 3 loss to Warriors

DALLAS — Moments soon after his Dallas Mavericks were being pushed to the brink of elimination in the Western Meeting finals, superstar guard Luka Doncic seen the predicament by a lengthy-expression lens.

Doncic scored a match-higher 40 details in Sunday’s 109-100 Match 3 reduction to the Golden State Warriors, such as 21 though the Mavs attempted to mount a fourth-quarter comeback that never ever acquired a lot steam. He also, having said that, had the game’s worst moreover-minus, as Dallas was outscored by 19 points in Doncic’s 40 minutes on the ground, with the Warriors continuing to have accomplishment concentrating on him on the defensive finish although heading up 3- in the collection.

Doncic, whose staff is now 2-6 when he scores 40 or much more factors in a playoff activity in his job, recognized accountability for the decline that put the Mavs in jeopardy of becoming swept in the franchise’s very first meeting finals appearance considering that the 2011 championship operate.

“I’m nonetheless learning,” stated Doncic, who also experienced 11 rebounds, 3 helps and two blocks. “I consider the initially two quarters, I performed really undesirable. Which is on me. But I’m even now finding out. I consider just after this year is completed, what ever we are, I imagine we are going to search back again and master a lot of matters.

“It truly is my to start with time in the meeting finals in the NBA. I am 23, gentleman. I am nonetheless learning a ton.”

Doncic became just the sixth player in NBA heritage to shed each video games whilst recording consecutive 40-stage playoff video games, in accordance to ESPN Stats & Information and facts information, joining some distinctive firm: Devin Booker, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Jerry West.

It is really a checklist that Doncic needs did not incorporate him. Nor did he want to join Golden Point out legend Rick Barry as, according to Elias Athletics Bureau, the only players to suffer losses in 4 consecutive 40-plus-issue playoff performances.

So significantly this collection, a Dallas group that exceeded expectations has been outplayed by a Warriors group with championship encounter.

“No one had us remaining here in these meeting finals,” claimed Doncic, who is averaging 34. details, 7.7 rebounds and 5. assists in the series. “I believe the Warriors are actively playing extraordinary. Everybody understands their position. Everybody just stays jointly. They are a extended-crafted staff. They have been jointly for a lengthy time, and I feel they’re participating in great basketball, so which is what I imagine is likely to be definitely challenging. And these past 3 games, it can be been quite tough.”

Initial-year Mavs mentor Jason Kidd also concentrated on the expertise Dallas is getting by competing in opposition to a workforce that characteristics possible potential Hall of Famers Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

“This is just the starting of this journey,” Kidd stated. “I know you guys experienced us winning the championship ahead of the year commenced. And that is a joke if you failed to get it. But this is a lot bigger than just this one activity or this 1 sequence. This is big for our franchise mainly because none of you men had us in this article. You fellas were being all supposed to be on holiday.

“So it’s cool to go via this, and we’re likely from — you can simply call them a dynasty. … They have 3 great gamers who will be all Hall of Famers, and this is a great lesson discovered from us. This isn’t really the conclude. This is just the commencing.”