The Dallas Mavericks have now taken two tough losses to the chin. After losing a nail-biter against the Orlando Magic on Sunday night, they followed that up with a 120-114 loss to an Oklahoma City Thunder squad playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Luka Doncic poured in 40 huge points to lead the Mavs on the evening, but the Mavs star was adamant that he didn't do enough for his team.
Via Callie Caplan:
“I don’t know,” Luka Doncic said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but we’ve got to be way better.”
“This game is on me,” the Mavs star continued. “Two stupid decisions by me the last two possessions. Shouldn’t happen. By far my worst defensive game this year, for sure, and it’s just on me.”
It's tough to ever put blame on a player who scores 40 points in any game. But Doncic clearly didn't exert the same level of effort on the defensive end as he did on the other side of the floor.
There were several instances where the Mavs star just gave up on certain defensive possessions, relinquishing points in the process.
Article Continues BelowTre Mann creates some separation from Luka Doncic and swishes the step back three pic.twitter.com/UGYaMQTHNR
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) February 3, 2022
Doncic was also the primary defender on Kenrich Williams, who scored the game-tying basket when a Mavs stop would have meant a likely win in regulation.
WHAT A PLAY TO FORCE OT 😮 pic.twitter.com/bMhakDyWOq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 3, 2022
Both games came down to the wire and it could have very well just been an off couple of days for Luka Doncic and the Mavs. But that doesn't take away the sting of defeat from games that Dallas clearly should have won.