Doncic hits last second three as Mavs edge Celtics in thriller
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with Willie Cauley-Stein #33 of the Dallas Mavericks after making the game-winning shot against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center on February 23, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP
Luka Doncic nailed two clutch three pointers, including the game winner with one second left, to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 110-107 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday in Texas.
Doncic drained a step back three pointer with 15 seconds left to make it 107-105 and then repeated the feat by shooting a high arching 28-footer over two Celtic defenders with less than a second left to win it.
Luka Doncic.
DEEP stepback.@dallasmavs win.#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/XkkJMJIINQ
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2021
The 21-year-old Slovenian finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Mavs earned their sixth win in seven games.
“It felt great. We needed this win badly. We somehow managed to win the game,” Doncic said.
“I know my team trusts me. If two guys go on me and my teammates are open I will pass, but it is about finding the best shot and that is what happened today.”
Luka Doncic steps back for the GAME-WINNING THREE with 0.1 remaining to lift the @dallasmavs!
Luka: 31 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST
Jalen Brunson: 22 PTS
Jaylen Brown: 29 PTS
Jayson Tatum: 28 PTS pic.twitter.com/Fm68XH1diG— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2021
Doncic’s winner came immediately after Celtics Jaylen Brown made a layup to level the score in front of the crowd of a pandemic-limited crowd of 3,300 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Dallas was able to win despite playing without Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber. Porzingis missed his second straight game with back trouble and Kleber sat out with a left ankle sprain.
Jalen Brunson scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Brown had 29 and Jayson Tatum tallied 28 for Boston, who lost their second straight.
The Celtics bungled 24-point lead on Sunday in a 120-115 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
