Luka Doncic Fouls Out in Pivotal Game 3 of NBA Finals

In a crucial moment that the Dallas Mavericks could ill afford, Luka Doncic fouled out of Game 3 in the NBA Finals. With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth quarter, Dallas ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics, 106-99. Doncic’s presence on the court is indispensable for the Mavericks, especially in such high-stakes situations.

Doncic exited the game with 4:12 remaining after picking up his sixth foul, with Boston holding a narrow 93-90 lead. This came just 26 seconds after he was assessed his fifth foul, leading to a visibly frustrated Doncic expressing his disbelief at the officiating. “Six fouls in the NBA Finals, basically I'm like, ‘C'mon, man. Better than that,’” he remarked.

The impact of Doncic’s absence was immediately felt. The Mavericks were outscored 13-9 in those final minutes without their All-NBA guard, a testament to how crucial he is to their success. This was only the third time in Doncic’s career that he fouled out, making the timing even more unfortunate.

Criticism of the 25-year-old star has been mounting with each subsequent Mavericks loss in the Finals. With Dallas now trailing 3-0 in the series, the Celtics are poised to potentially sweep them in Game 4 on Friday. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst didn’t hold back in his critique, calling out Doncic for his constant complaints about officiating, defensive lapses, and what he termed an "unacceptable" performance in Game 3.

Adding to the challenges, Doncic has been battling multiple injuries throughout the playoffs. He was listed on the Game 3 injury report with a bruised chest and had previously dealt with a sprained knee and ankle soreness.

Despite these setbacks, Doncic was instrumental in leading the Mavericks past three 50-win teams in the Western Conference playoffs to reach the Finals. His offensive talent is undeniable, but his first Finals appearance has highlighted the grueling demands of this stage and the need for consistent excellence on both ends of the court.

Doncic’s overall Finals stats are impressive: averaging 29.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 47.3% from the field and 32.1% from beyond the arc. However, his fourth-quarter performance has been a notable weak spot. In the three games, he’s averaged just 2.7 points, shooting 20% from the field (3-for-15) and failing to hit a single three-pointer (0-for-4).

It’s not unusual for stars to struggle in their first Finals appearance, but these challenges highlight areas where Doncic needs to improve. His frustration with officials and defensive shortcomings are well-known issues that have become even more pronounced at this level. The Celtics are exploiting these weaknesses, with their offensive players frequently targeting Doncic.

The mismatch created by Boston’s personnel has made it difficult for Doncic to defend effectively, and there have been moments where his defensive effort has waned, allowing players like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday to drive past him with ease.

@WindhorstESPN mentions what has to change for Luka and the Mavs pic.twitter.com/vyzhoYMQ8g

— Stanford Steve (@StanfordSteve82) June 13, 2024

“He’s definitely got a bull's-eye on his chest,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “He’s got to be able to guard and understand that we’re there to protect him and help him if he does get beat. Again, he’s carrying a load offensively. They are putting him in every pick-and-roll and isolation. He’s got to be able to play the game where he can rest on offense and let others carry the load.”

At this stage, the Mavericks lack the offensive support necessary to help Doncic, aside from Kyrie Irving. “It’s easy to point the finger at just him, say you could be better. That’s easy to say. I think he knows that,” Irving said. “But, yeah, it’s reiterating that I have his back. We all have his back.”

The Celtics, who have experienced their share of playoff disappointments, understand the growth that comes from those losses. The hope is that Doncic will recognize the adjustments he needs to make to elevate his game further.

As the Mavericks face elimination, all eyes will be on Doncic to see if he can rise to the occasion and extend the series, learning and growing from these challenging Finals experiences.