The Dallas Mavericks are starting to prove why they could be legitimate contenders come summer of next year. They had just come off a much-needed win over the New Orleans Pelicans. But it seems like the squad may still have a lot to give individually.

Luka Doncic knew that Kyrie Irving was not in full shape against the Zion Williamson-led team. He called him out in his latest statement after the Mavs won, via Landon Thomas of Mavs Fan For Life.

“He said he was tired before the game. So that was, how do you say that, BS? So I don’t get fined,” was the hilarious statement that Luka Doncic dropped when Kyrie Irving claimed that he was fatigued.

Despite the supposed fatigue, Irving led all scorers in the game. He notched 35 points for the Mavs, which paved the way for their victory.

Knocking down 13 out of his 20 shots helped get him a fairly efficient outing against the Pelicans. Doncic followed it up with a 30-piece of his own.

They both combined for 16 assists to share facilitating duties. This along with Doncic's four rebounds and Irving's six made for a lethal all-around backcourt that proved to be too much for Zion Williamson and his squad.

Mavs' Kyrie Irving responds

Irving would then verify that he was indeed fatigued despite the huge performance via Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “I told him before the game that I was tired… I was tired before the game and then once the game got going I got into it. It was good for our team to hear something different before the game,” was how Irving explained his fatigue and recovery during the Mavs' win.

Things are starting to click in this system. Are they the next men up for the Larry O'Brien trophy hunt?