Following a 3-2 start to their NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks’ recent loss to the Houston Rockets has left star player Luka Doncic reflecting on his performance and its impact on the team.
In the post-game press conference, Doncic took accountability for the Mavericks’ sluggish start, particularly in the first quarter, which ended 21-34. “That’s on me,” Doncic admitted. “I started pretty bad, so I’ll take the blame because I gotta do better than that. I know I can do it; I just have to focus and play my game.”
Doncic, who missed the preseason, cited his current physical condition as a factor in his performance. “I didn’t have preseason, so I’m just trying to get back into my rhythm,” he explained. Despite the setback, he struck an optimistic tone, saying, “In the fourth quarter, I felt a little bit like myself. That’s always a good thing. But obviously, we didn’t win; it wasn’t good enough.”
While taking responsibility, Doncic still put up an impressive 29 points in 38 minutes, outscoring everyone on the court. His backcourt teammate, Kyrie Irving, also contributed with 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, keeping the Mavericks in contention until the final moments.
The Mavericks will look to regroup over the weekend as they prepare to host the Orlando Magic on Sunday and the Indiana Pacers on Monday at the American Airlines Center. Coach Jason Kidd will be counting on Doncic and the team to find their rhythm and build momentum as they push for a strong season start.
