Luka Dončić Wows NBA Fans as Kyrie Irving Outduels Kevin Durant in Mavs’ Win vs. Suns
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 23, 2024
Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
Anytime Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving face off in their respective careers it will be a storyline, given the calamity that was their time together in Brooklyn.
Thursday night’s matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t have been any different except for one factor—Luka Dončić was the best player on the court.
And it wasn’t close.
The MVP candidate had another superb performance, putting up 41 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in the Mavs’ 123-113 win over the Suns.
NBA @NBALuka stepback 3 for 27 🎯
PHX-DAL on TNT pic.twitter.com/Eir0enMWhT
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTLuka uses the timely fake for the and-1 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/YlXKmaTPmR
NBA @NBALuka spins, fades away. SPLASH.
Suns-Mavs on TNT pic.twitter.com/irP6QCyHGP
NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTLuka is in elite company 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jEwLzQaMUU
Irving was hardly chopped liver, adding 29 points and five boards. As for the Suns, Devin Booker went off (35 points, eight assists, five rebounds), while Durant had a solid 23 points.
But it’s Luka’s world right now, and social media was yet again in awe of another masterpiece performance:
Hardwood Paroxysm @HPbasketballLuka MVP showcase game right here.
CM @97kritI promise I’m not being biased when I say LUKA IS MVP
Jo @MavsStan41LUKA MVP RUN HAS COMMENCED
Jordan Ennis @HoopSocialDraftKyrie isn’t Luka’s Robin. Kyrie is Batman. Luka is just Superman.
Sam Vecenie @Sam_VecenieSuns-Mavs is awesome. It’s a little messy but also fun with Luka and Kyrie basically going off. That Kyrie spurt at the end of the first was glorious.
Stringer Bonez 🇻🇨🇧🇧♍️ @MtBonezLuka has his teammates shooting practice 3’s the way they’re so wide open.
Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 @MavsFilmRoomHaving Luka and Kyrie on your favorite basketball team pic.twitter.com/DKzc1Kwhps
Lukas Chapman @LukasIChapmanThe very real hatred between Dallas and Phoenix is great for the game! Luka vs Book, Kyrie vs KD, the playoff history between the franchises. We deserve another playoff series!
Michael Goldermann @mgoIdermannIt really feels like Kyrie and Luka have figured it out
H I M ❗️ @57MikeJRKyrie & Luka Hooping Dawg 🤦🏾♂️
Telvin Griffin @TelvinGriffin@dallasmavs out there showing out tonight!! Luka and Kyrie balling!! #NBAonTNT #NBA
Dončić’s exploits weren’t just fun to watch but also were pretty important for the postseason picture. With the win, the Mavericks (33-23) leapfrogged the Suns (33-23) in the standings, claiming the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series, 2-1.
That could end up mattering quite bit given how tight the Western Conference playoff picture is at the moment. While there’s plenty of basketball left to be played, Thursday’s win moved the Mavericks out of the Play-In Tournament berths and bumped the Suns back to the No. 7 seed.
It would be pretty marvelous seeing these teams eventually face off in the postseason, given the history between Irving and Durant and the very real animosity between Dončić and Booker.
Right now, one thing is clear—the Mavericks will have the best player on the court if the two teams face yet again. Dončić is on a different level right now.
Good