By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Surviving an NBA Playoffs elimination game for the first time in his career, Luka Doncic powered the Dallas Mavericks to the win, 113-86, versus the Phoenix Suns Thursday evening.
The Slovenian superstar after dealing with an apparent injury on his left leg during the first half kept on sinking shots en route to 11/26 field goals and 33 points as the Mavs dominated Game 6 of the Quarterfinals best-of-seven series. Besides his scoring effort, he had 11 rebounds, eight assists, and four steals.
“I think we won this game on the defensive end,” the three-time NBA All-Star mentioned, “We’ve got another game. That’s fun. It’s playoffs, and we’re going to give our energy.”
Fellow Europeans coming off the bench included German Maxi Kleber logging nine points, four rebounds, and two assists. Latvian Davis Bertans had three points and one rebound, Serbian Boban Marjanovic two points and one rebound, and French Frank Ntilikina four steals, two assists, one rebound, and one block.
For the losing side, Deandre Ayton posted a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double. Danish Gabriel Lundberg and Croatian Dario Saric (right knee) were inactive.
Game 7 will be played in Footprint Center Sunday. On Wednesday, the winner will collide with the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals best-of-seven series.
Earlier, the Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 99-90, to win the series 4-2. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals opposite the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics is scheduled for Tuesday.
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