Luka Doncic and Brian Windhorst (Image source: X)

The Dallas Mavericks are on the brink of elimination after losing three consecutive games to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst delivered a harsh critique of the Mavs’ star Luka Doncic following their Game 3 defeat.

In his on-court media coverage, Windhorst did not hold back his frustration with Doncic’s performance due to his last moment’s foul play.

“That Luka fell onto the ground there in an unacceptable position to put himself in with four minutes left and five fouls. And then immediately looks at the bench and says, You better bleeping challenge it as if it’s the bench’s fault that he just made a terrible play,” Windhorst said.

The Mavericks cut a daunting 21-point Celtics lead to just one point in the fourth quarter. However, their efforts fell short, as Luka Doncic fouled out with just over four minutes left on the clock. It left Dallas without their star player at a critical time.

Windhorst later went on to share the significance of this moment and the challenges Doncic faces if he wants to elevate his game and lead his team to victory.

“I’m standing here in the Mavericks tunnel. Over there is the Celtics Tunnel. That’s where the winners are. If Luka is ever going to be a winner coming out of this tunnel here, he is going to have to use this,” Windhorst added.

The Serbian superstar ended the game with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, per ESPN.

Luka Doncic’s Shooting Struggles in the NBA Finals

Across the fourth quarters of Games 1 to 3, Luka Doncic has managed to score a mere 8 points, shooting a dismal 3 for 15 from the field, which translates to a troubling 20% shooting accuracy.

Beyond the arc, his struggles have been even more apparent, failing to connect on any of his four attempts, resulting in a 0% success rate from three-point range. Such shooting woes have contributed to a paltry 23.9% True Shooting percentage.

For a player of Doncic’s caliber and reputation as a game-changer, these numbers are alarming, especially in a championship series where every possession carries immense weight.

The Mavs and Celtics are set to play game 4 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.