Luka Doncic feels like he’s ‘letting Kyrie Irving down’ after Game 4 loss to Clippers, after Mavs second option scores 40 points despite 116-111 loss to Los Angeles
- Luka Doncic notched a 29-point triple-double as the Mavs lost to the Clippers
- The MVP runner-up injured his knee in Game 3 and said it ‘hurts’
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Luka Doncic feels like he’s “letting (Kyrie Irving) down,” he said after the Mavs fell 116-111 to the Clippers in Game 4 of the first round.
Irving was spectacular in the loss, putting up 40 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Doncic had a 29-10-10 triple-double.
However, the MVP runner-up – who is dealing with a knee injury – was apparently unhappy with his performance after the game, which evened the series at 2-2.
“I just have to help him more,” Doncic told reporters, speaking about teammate Irving.
“I feel like I’m letting him down, so I have to be there. I need to help him more. He gave everything he had and was incredible for us throughout the series.
Luka Doncic said after Mavs’ loss Sunday he needs to help Kyrie Irving more
Irving had 40 points for the Mavericks as they nearly completed a 31-point comeback
In 4 playoff games, Irving is averaging 28.8 points, while Doncic is scoring a bit more at 29.0 per game.
However, Doncic struggled mightily on defense in Game 4, as the Clippers went 8-15 from the field with him as their primary defender, according to research from ESPN Stats and Information.
Doncic injured his right knee in the third game and has reportedly suffered stiffness and pain since.
“It obviously hurts, but that shouldn’t be an excuse, man,” he said. “Just out and a little sloppy, so I must be a lot better than that.”
Doncic struggled on defense in Game 4 as James Harden scored 33 points in the game
Harden drives past Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green during the first half of Game 4
The Mavs trailed by 31 in the second quarter, but clawed their way back and led with 2:15 left.
From there, however, the Clippers regained control to earn a crucial victory before Game 5 in Los Angeles.
Irving said of Doncic: “He wants to play well and knows he wants to have a bigger impact, even though he’s almost averaging a triple-double for the series, but we always criticize him and I think that ‘he always criticizes himself.’ ‘
Paul George and James Harden each scored 33 points in the victory, while Kawhi Leonard suffered from knee inflammation.
