‘Glad to be back’: Doncic scores 30 in his return

SALT LAKE CITY — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic could not cease smiling regardless of the Utah Jazz’s series-tying 100-99 win Saturday in Recreation 4.

Taking part in playoff basketball is bliss for Doncic, notably after a strained left calf pressured him to take a seat out the primary three video games of the Western Convention first-round collection.

“I am simply excited to be again,” Doncic mentioned after his 30-point, 10-rebound, four-assist efficiency. “I had enjoyable on the market, simply having enjoyable enjoying basketball. What could possibly be higher than within the playoffs? The playoffs are probably the most thrilling, so I am simply glad to be again.”

Doncic performed 34 minutes, as coach Jason Kidd modified his regular substitution sample to offer his star breaks halfway by the primary and third quarters. He completed robust, hitting a floater to offer the Mavs the lead with 1:13 remaining and a step-back 3-pointer over three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Rudy Gobert that felt like a dagger, giving Dallas a four-point lead with 39.6 seconds left.

Nonetheless, the Jazz sandwiched a three-point play by All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and a go-ahead Mitchell-to-Gobert lob round a pair of missed free throws by Dallas middle Dwight Powell.

Eleven seconds remained after Gobert’s dunk, and the Jazz have been decided to ensure that Doncic did not get an opportunity to make the sport winner. They double-teamed Doncic as he crossed half court docket, protecting the ball out of his fingers. Dallas sixth man Spencer Dinwiddie missed a 3 from the best wing on the buzzer, the identical spot the place he had hit a buzzer-beater in a street win over the Brooklyn Nets in March.

“Make anyone else shoot, to be sincere,” Mitchell mentioned when requested the important thing to the Jazz’s cease on the ultimate possession. “[Doncic] hits robust photographs. That is what you need. Dinwiddie hit like three of those self same photographs throughout the season, so when he shot it I used to be somewhat nervous as a result of I’ve seen him hit these photographs. However on the finish of the day, he is capturing over Rudy Gobert, and it is robust.”

Doncic, who was injured within the Mavs’ regular-season finale and went 13 days between video games, mentioned he felt winded at occasions Saturday. He struggled defensively within the first half, when the Jazz steadily focused him whereas constructing a 54-42 lead. He mentioned the calf didn’t hassle him.

“In the beginning, I used to be simply fascinated by it somewhat bit,” mentioned Doncic, who has averaged 33.3 factors, 8.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 14 profession playoff video games. “I believe in the course of the sport I form of forgot about it.”

Doncic additionally dominated stretches of the sport, going 11-of-21 from the ground and 4-of-10 from 3-point vary.

“I imply, he is Luka,” mentioned Gobert, who had 17 factors and 15 rebounds. “He would not must go quick to influence the sport, and he impacted the sport quite a bit, particularly down the stretch. He made some huge performs. That is why he’s who he’s.”