Luka Doncic Stands Tall Despite Mavericks’ Loss, Joins Elite Company In His NBA Finals Debut

Luka Doncic Made NBA History in Mavs-CelticsLuka Doncic (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics squared off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

While the Mavs did their best to keep the game close in the third quarter, the Celtics were in command, and the final score was 108–89.

While the Mavericks struggled in the game, Luka Doncic was the lone warrior with another impressive performance. The Mavericks’ star point guard entered the record books after scoring a 30-point double-double, becoming the first player to do so in their NBA Finals debut since Tim Duncan in 1999.

Thanks to Doncic’s 30 points, the Mavericks stayed in the game. In 38 minutes of play, Luka Doncic shot 12/26 from the field and 4/112 from beyond the arc, scoring 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. With this accomplishment, he joins an exclusive group reminiscent of Tim Duncan, the iconic five-time NBA champion and Finals debutant.

Luka Doncic Surpasses LeBron James To Set a New Record

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89. Luka Doncic scored 30 points for Dallas, while no other player scored more than 14.

 

Doncic surpassed LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain with 17 postseason 30-point double-doubles by a player 25 or younger.

Doncic, who is just 25 years old, will only become better on all-time statistical lists. The Mavericks star has already established a strong postseason résumé in his short career. Doncic would reach a new level of superstardom with an NBA title, but it won’t be simple with the Celtics in the way.

Boston and Dallas will play their second game on Sunday night.