Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic on Tuesday looked completely hobbled in his team’s Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. Several fans made sure to add insult to injury.
The Mavs were blown out by the Thunder 117-95 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Doncic looked like a shell of himself in the contest. He finished with 19 points on 6/19 shooting and committed a game-high 5 turnovers. The Slovenian also went 1/8 from beyond the arc and 6/10 from the free throw line.
Doncic appeared to be bothered by his lingering knee injury, which has been an issue since Game 3 of the Mavericks’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Fans on X showed the injured Doncic no mercy. They clowned the Mavs star for looking slow and out of shape.
Luka Doncic when he not playing against the Los Angeles Clippers pic.twitter.com/rOFkBX5Rms
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 8, 2024
Luca Doncic needs to get in the gym this offseason. Could be so great. Need less trips to Taco Bell.
— Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) May 8, 2024
Luka Doncic 2024 playoff highlights: pic.twitter.com/LRVFVFZ7Lt
— ۟ (@MavsPlsWin) May 8, 2024
Luka Doncic 2024 NBA Playoffs pic.twitter.com/xTK7gVbd7z
— Brooklyn Guy (@BrooklynGuy2021) May 8, 2024
Thunder defensive stalwart Lu Dort hounded Doncic all game. The burly 6’4″ guard visibly bothered Doncic defensively whenever they were matched up. Fans noticed that too.
Luka Doncic seeing Lu Dort check in after shooting his 10th freethrow pic.twitter.com/lijNMWtdKb
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) May 8, 2024
Even the fans in attendance were giving Doncic a hard time.
Luka Doncic wants the ball, OKC Thunder fan throws it away 😭 #NBAPlayoffs #nba pic.twitter.com/z4NOOMfPUY
— David S (@SJdsierra) May 8, 2024
Mavericks fans can at least take solace in the fact that their team was also blown out in Game 1 last series against the Clippers. They ended up taking four of the next five games to win the series in six.
Doncic entered Tuesday with five career Game 1 losses. The Mavericks came back to win three out of five of those series.
But with Doncic clearly a step slow for the Mavericks in Game 1, Dallas appears to be in for an uphill battle for the rest of the second round.
