Dribble and overflow on the left, along the 3-point line, contact with his defender (his ex-teammate Josh Richardson), jerk, no step back and 3-point shot off balance, at the buzzer. Bang. It is in this way, under high pressure, the score tied (104-104), while the last seconds of the clock ticked away, that the Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic executed, at the buzzer, Saturday evening the Boston Celtics (107-104).
The still 22-year-old kid, who led his selection to the semi-finals of the Olympic Games (lost against the Blues in Tokyo), continues to grow under the amazed although accustomed eyes of his trainer Jason Kidd, and to perpetuate the European tradition. of Mavs cornered two decades by Dirk Nowitzki – the duo were champions in 2011. This shot at the last second, which evokes the one made in the bubble of Orlando against the LA Clippers during the 2020 play-offs, was only the conclusion of a new great evening (33 points, 12/21 including 5/10 at 3 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists).
“I’ve played with a player of that style here in the past. Everyone knew the ball would go to number 41 (Nowitzki) and he still got his way. I think everyone knew the puff would be in the hands of number 77 (Doncic), and he did the same, smiled Kidd at the end of a match where his Mavs resisted the cannon return of Celtics for a moment led by 17 lengths (40-57 at halftime), deprived of Jaylen Brown (adductor) but carried by 32 points (12/19, 11 rebounds) from Jayson Tatum and 20 units and 6 assists from German leader Dennis Schroder. Ime Udoka’s men even went ahead on a 3-point shot from Marcus Smart (104-102, 47th).
In an NBA evening with a very international flavor, also marked by a decisive counter by Nikola Jokic on the Denver side, the other Texan top scorer was Latvian Kristaps Porzingis, back on the court after missing five matches through injury ( back), with 21 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. Frenchman Frank Ntilikina also contributed, with 5 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 13 minutes.
Third in the Western Conference (6 wins – 3 losses) behind Golden State (7-1) and Utah (7-2), Dallas will host New Orleans on Monday.