The Phoenix Suns know that they will need to do everything in their power to prevent Luka Doncic from exploding against them in their first-round series against the Mavs. On Monday night in Game 1, Suns vet Jae Crowder decided to give the Mavs superstar a bit of a warning shot in the second quarter of the opening matchup.

Crowder got slapped with a Flagrant 1 foul after the Suns wing caught Luka right in the nuts as Crowder rose up for a jumper:

https://twitter.com/MrMatthewCFB/status/1521319667490504705

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The Suns veteran ended up passing up the shot while for his part, Doncic clearly got the short end of the stick in this play. The Mavs star immediately clutched his crotch area as he fell to the ground in pain. Doncic needed a minute before he could get up and shake off the hit.

If you ask him, Crowder will definitely say that the kick was not intentional. This is a very subjective play and is open to one's own interpretation. The referees, however, deemed it as a Flagrant 1 on the Suns swingman.

This series is going to be very physical and I'm certain that this isn't the only hit Luka Doncic is going to take throughout this series.