Best- Luka Doncic, Mavericks (G) – 40PTS 11-20FG 0-3 3PT 18-19FT 11AST 8REB 6TO 38MIN
Luka Doncic has kept his breakout season going with his energetic performance on Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns. Doncic won Rookie of the Year last season in a landslide. And now, in his second season, he is a top-five MVP option. Doncic is only 21 years old and is just scratching the surface of his NBA potential. He has been the one consistent player for the Mavericks and has embraced becoming the face of the franchise. Doncic’s game was massive, but it was not enough for the Mavericks to get the win.
The Mavericks entered the bubble in the 7th seed with a record of 40-27; They had a chance to move up, but they blew a game on Friday to their in-state rival, the Houston Rockets. Regardless, the Mavericks are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs this year, and Doncic will be there to showcase what a phenom he is. It will be interesting to see where his career will go from here; Doncic is definitely a must-watch in the NBA.
Other Notables: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (F) – 36PTS 14-25FG 2-5 3PT 6-9FT 18REB 8AST 1BLK 3TO; Jayson Tatum, Celtics (F) – 34PTS 11-22FG 5-8 3PT 7-9FT 4REB 8AST 2STL 1BLK 2TO; Damian Lilliard, Blazers (G) – 30PTS 8-20FG 5-14 3PT 9-9FT 2REB 16AST 1BLK 5TO.
Worst – Tim Hardaway, Jr., Mavericks (F) – 2PTS 1-12FG 0-8 3PT 10REB 3AST 1STL 1TO 30MIN
Tim Hardaway Jr. has basketball greatness in his blood. His dad, Tim Hardaway (PG), played for the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. But on Sunday night, Hardaway, Jr. did not look good enough to be in a recreational league.
Hardaway’s decline could not have come at a worse time for the Mavericks. They had just blown a game on Friday to the Houston Rockets, and Hardaway’s awful play was one of the biggest reasons. The good news is that the only way the Mavericks could have missed the playoffs is if they lost every game, and the Memphis Grizzlies went undefeated; the Grizzlies have already lost two games.
The Mavericks have a two-headed monster with their star players PG Luka Doncic and PF Kristaps Porzingis, but they need role players and third scoring options to step their game up if the Mavericks want their time in the bubble to be worth it. Hardaway was filling in quite nicely into the third scoring option with an average of 15.8PPG this season, but Sunday, he couldn’t hit the ocean if he fell into it. The Mavericks have six games left before the playoffs begin, and Hardaway needs to concentrate on contributing with the scoring load like he had been earlier in the season.
Extra Trash: Mikal Bridges, Suns (F) – 4PTS 2-9FG 0-3 3PT 1REB 1AST 2STL 3BLK 3TO 39MIN; James Harden, Rockets (G) – 24 PTS 5-14FG 3-12 3PT 11-13FT 7REB 7AST 6STL 3TO 34MIN; Rudy Gay, Spurs (F) – 12PTS 3-15FG 2-6 3PT 4-4FT 7REB 1AST 1STL 1BLK 4TO 29MIN.