He set the tone – Jason Kidd lauds Luka Doncic after Mavericks qualify for NBA finals

Dallas Mavericks registered a 124-103 win at the Target Center in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against Minnesota Timberwolves to take the series by 4-1 on Thursday night and set a date with Boston Celtics for the NBA Finals.

Luka Doncic was the star of the show as the Slovenian scored 36 points. The Mavericks were able to hit the ground running in the first quarter, taking a 35-19 lead, and didn’t turn back from there.

Doncic earned Western Conference finals MVP for his consistent performance throughout the series.

“It was Luka magic mode,” Kidd said. “He set the tone and then he made it easier for everyone else. Everybody else stepped up.”

Interestingly, Doncic out-scored Timberwolves by 20-19 in the first frame as he was on a roll.

“You know that gets me going,” said Doncic, who also had 10 rebounds and 5 assists. “Everybody knows that by now.”

“Man, I was enjoying it,” said Mavs costar Kyrie Irving, who also scored 36 points in the clincher. “You’re just watching a special performance take place. … When Luka starts off a game like that, we’re a tough team to beat.”

Furthermore, Kyrie Irving was also at his absolute best, scoring 36 points. Irving and Doncic became unstoppable as they delivered for the team.

“When Kyrie got [to Dallas], they said, ‘Oh, Luka’s not going to work with him,'” said center Daniel Gafford, a trade deadline acquisition this year who had 11 points and 9 rebounds in Game 5. “Working pretty good together right now, if I do say so myself. So whoever said that, they obviously need to go get their eyes checked.”

Doncic said it was a good feeling to shut the crowd while playing on the road.

“It’s a good feeling, man. I can’t lie,” Doncic said. “Just go out there, and it’s us against them. Just stay together, but that feeling’s great.”

The first game of the NBA finals will be played on 6th June.