SAN ANTONIO — Two days before Luka Doncic and the Mavericks arrived at AT&T Center on Saturday, coach Gregg Popovich revealed his team’s defensive plan...
arrived at AT&T Center on Saturday, coach Gregg Popovich revealed his team’s defensive plan against Dallas’ super-scoring superstar.
“It’s unbelievable, this guy,” Popovich said. “He’s just a beautiful basketball player. He’s like the prototype for high basketball IQ and high skill level, all rolled into one guy. He’s very special, very special.” “I forgot I had COVID and everything,” Doncic said, reflecting on the past year. “I’m in a better place than I was last year at the same time.”Dallas struggled to cushion the advantage early and then to stave off the Spurs, who twice cut the lead to one point in the last minute. Though Frank Ntilikina hit a key jumper with 40.8 seconds remaining, Dallas’ best defense against the upset-minded Spurs came via Doncic’s two-way control.
If Popovich emphasized at halftime his team’s need to slow Doncic’s scoring, the 23-year-old emerged from the locker room ready with a counter: 12 straight minutes of passes all around the court.