Doncic: ‘I missed basketball and I was really happy to be back’ / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Luka Doncic made his comeback after an ankle injury. The Slovenian superstar was shining bright in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers, and as Doncic admitted himself, he was happy to be playing basketball again.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Kristaps Porzingis Points 30 Accuracy 9-16 Rebounds 7 Assists 1

“I was tired,” Doncic said after the game. “And overtime in the first game back, it was tough. But we got a win, that’s all that matters. I was happy.”

Doncic played 41 minutes in which he accumulated 26 points (5/10 2PT, 4/11 3PT, 4/4 FT), 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 6 turnovers.

“I mean mentally, I was really happy to be back,” Doncic continued. “I miss basketball. I know it’s only been three (games), but I will do everything possible to play the game. I felt great after I woke up from my nap. I was just ready to go.”

With 1:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, Mavericks were leading 102-92. Despite that, Clippers managed to force overtime after Paul George’s buzzer-beater.

“For a second, you were like, ‘Damn, we should have finished it right here,’” Dallas forward Kristaps Porzingis said. “But I think we are growing as a team mentally, and kind of knew that OK, if it is five more minutes, it’s five more minutes, and we will go out there and prove that we’re the superior team.”

Recently, Porzingis has been showing great form and last night’s game wasn’t an exception.

The Latvian forward finished the game with 30 points (7/11 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 10/10 FT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, and 5 turnovers.

“Honestly, it is just easy, easy opportunities because of Luka,” Porzingis added. “Luka is out there, he just makes the game so much easier for everybody else.”

Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.