Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd showered praise on Luka Doncic after their 109-108 win in the second game of the Western Conference finals on Friday. The Slovenian scored the winning three to help his team clinch the thriller and take a 2-0 lead.
With 13 seconds remaining in the final quarter and Wolves leading by two points, Jason Kidd’s plan was simple – ‘Give Luka the ball and let him do what he does best.’
“The play was to get Luka the ball and let Luka do what he does in those moments,” Kidd said.
Doncic scored a step-back 3 over four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to take his team over the line. The Wolves were leading by 18 points at one stage however the Mavericks made a staggering comeback.
“I just saw some space and decided to shoot a 3,” Doncic said after leading the Mavericks to the third-biggest playoff comeback in franchise history. “Get to my spot, step back. That’s it.”
Doncic scored 32 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Nikola Jokic as the only players in NBA history to register four triple-doubles in a five-game span in the postseason, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“As you’ve seen, he loves that stage,” Kidd said. “He doesn’t run from it. He made a big shot. … Luka is special. He loves those type of moments.”
Gobert, who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, took the blame on his shoulders for the home loss.
“I let my team down on that last play,” Gobert said. “They believed in me to get a stop and he scored. And he scored a 3, which is something that he does very well. So I’m definitely taking that responsibility that I need to be better in that situation.”
The third game of the series will be played on Sunday.
