NEW DELHI: Luka Doncic showcased his unparalleled basketball skills as the Dallas Mavericks clinched a thrilling 125-120 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener. Doncic, with a stunning performance, recorded 49 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, leaving the crowd in awe.
However, it was a single play that became the highlight of the night and secured the victory for the Mavericks. Doncic, in a moment of sheer brilliance, executed a one-handed, fading bank shot that defied all odds, evading a shot block from the Nets. This astonishing move, which left everyone breathless, gave the Mavs a 123-120 lead with a mere 26.1 seconds left in regulation. Dallas followed it up with a crucial defensive stop, closing out the game with two free throws from Josh Green.
When asked about the extraordinary shot, Doncic said, "I don’t know. I saw there were two or three seconds left [on the shot clock] and just knew I had to put it up and touch the rim so that we would have a chance of reloading [the clock]."
In a playful exchange, Doncic's former teammate, Dorian Finney-Smith, jokingly claimed that Doncic hadn't called "glass" on the shot. "Hell nah, he ain't call no glass," said Finney-Smith, adding, "He better not say he called glass, either." In response to this remark, Doncic humorously said he called "glass" in Slovenian to keep it a secret from his teammate.
Doncic is known for his ability to pull off seemingly impossible trick shots. As Finney-Smith remarked, "I've seen it a million times. He plays around, and he honestly works on those shots." The stunning game-winner was another testament to Doncic's extraordinary skills.
When reflecting on the shot, Doncic noted that it felt good when he released it, and he actually expected it to go in. "Yes, actually," he said. "It was feeling good. I promise."
Doncic, who has a history of making incredible and improbable shots, felt that this one was the most challenging of all. Unlike a traditional jump shot, it was more of a hook shot, making it, in his opinion, his most challenging make.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd admitted he was tempted to call a timeout before the shot but refrained, allowing Doncic to create a "Luka special." Kidd praised Doncic's ability to perform in clutch situations, emphasizing his dedication to practicing unconventional shots.
With the victory, the Mavericks maintained their perfect 2-0 start to the season, and Doncic is averaging an astonishing 41.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The Mavs will face the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum in their next game on Monday, looking to build on their impressive start to the season.
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