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Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard put on a show in the team's series-clinching victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, but he also made sure to pay his respects to the opponent.
Leonard lauded Mavs star Luka Doncic during his postgame interview, saying Doncic “didn't back down” and fought to keep Dallas in the series.
“He’s a great player … battled every minute he was out there on the floor, didn’t back down. Led his team every game and he did a hell of a job out there.”
– Kawhi on Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/XHxJ5VVvAz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 30, 2020
Luka Doncic certainly put on a show in his first playoff series.
The Slovenian youngster averaged 31.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists for the six games, and provided fans with one of the most remarkable performances of the year in a stunning Game 4 victory.
Doncic had been questionable to play Game 4 after suffering a sprained left ankle in the previous contest. He then proceeded to put up a 43-point triple-double and hit a miraculous buzzer-beater as Dallas tied the series against the Clippers despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis.
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Ultimately, however, Luka was not able to carry the Mavs past Leonard and the Clippers. He was noticeably aching in Game 5, and he finished the contest shooting just 6-for-17 from the field.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard elevated his level of play. He dominated in Game 5 with 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting in under 30 minutes of play. “The Klaw” followed that performance by scoring 33 points in Game 6 to close the series, all while also registering 14 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
The Clippers will await the winner of the Jazz-Nuggets series in the conference semifinals, while the Mavs will start thinking about next year.
Nevertheless, Dallas can take pride in knowing they have a bona fide leader and franchise cornerstone in Luka, who is garnering the respect of fellow superstars like Kawhi.
