In a thrilling matchup that lived up to its billing, the Dallas Mavericks fell short against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, losing 117-112. Despite a valiant effort from their star player, Luka Doncic, the Mavericks were unable to overcome a strong team performance from the Warriors.
Doncic, who has been carrying the Mavericks on his back all season, was visibly frustrated and disappointed after the game. The 24-year-old Slovenian sensation took to the podium and bluntly assessed his own performance, calling it “unacceptable.”
“I didn’t play well,” Doncic said candidly. “I made some bad decisions, and I didn’t shoot the ball well. It’s unacceptable. I’ve got to be better.”
Doncic finished the game with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, but it was clear that he was not satisfied with his overall showing. He shot just 9-23 from the field and committed 5 turnovers, uncharacteristic mistakes for the normally sure-handed Doncic.
The Mavericks’ loss was not solely due to Doncic’s subpar performance, however. The team’s defense was porous at times, allowing the Warriors to shoot 52% from the field and 43% from three-point range. Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson took full advantage, combining for 55 points and 11 three-pointers.
“We didn’t defend well enough,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “We gave up too many easy baskets, and we didn’t make enough shots. It’s a tough loss, but we’ve got to bounce back.”
Despite the disappointment, Doncic remains confident that his team can turn things around and make a deep playoff run. The Mavericks are currently 42-30 on the season, good for 5th place in the Western Conference.
“We’ve got to learn from our mistakes and move on,” Doncic said. “We’ve got a tough schedule ahead of us, but we’re ready for the challenge. We’ll come back stronger.”
The Mavericks will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. With a win, they can keep pace with the 4th-place Phoenix Suns and stay in contention for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
As for Doncic, he will undoubtedly be looking to redeem himself after a rare off-night. His coach, Jason Kidd, has no doubt that he will.
“Luka’s a competitor,” Kidd said. “He hates losing more than he loves winning. He’ll be back, and he’ll be better.”
With Doncic leading the charge, the Mavericks are a team to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Despite Thursday’s loss, they remain a legitimate title contender, and their fans have every reason to be excited about the remainder of the season.
