Sometimes in life and the NBA, it’s better to be lucky than good. On Wednesday night, luck was on the side of the Dallas Mavericks against the Memphis Grizzlies.
First, with the Mavericks down 113-111 with 02.2 seconds to go, Memphis’ Grayson Allen, a 91% free throw shooter, had an opportunity to put the game away. However, Allen missed both free throws, which gave Luka Doncic and the Mavericks an opportunity.
With 01.8 seconds left, Doncic hit a one-foot, three-point shot at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 114-113 win on the road.
Doncic finished with 29 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis poured in 21 points. The Grizzlies were led by Allen, who had 23 points.
After the game, Doncic discussed the game-winning shot.
“I was kind of falling down,” Doncic said. “So, it was kind of lucky. We’ll take it.”
This was a big game for both teams, and Wednesday’s game had a playoff-like atmosphere. The eighth-seeded Grizzlies(27-26) were looking to get closer to the seventh-seeded Mavericks(30-24), and both teams are trying to catch the sixth-seeded Blazers(31-23) to avoid the play-in tournament.
However, this game was all about the greatness of Doncic.
“You expect him to make those shots,” Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. “The fact that he was running, off the wrong foot. In the context of Luka and what he’s capable of, these are shots that he makes all the time.”
If there is a big shot, Doncic is willing to take it, and it appears he’s always going to make it, and he did that on Wednesday night.
Dallas will now start a five-game homestand on Friday night against the New York Knicks. After New York, they have the Kings, Pistons, and a two-game set against the Lakers, which will probably be without LeBron James, so these games are very winnable for Dallas and a great chance to get that sixth seed in the West.
Watch as Carlisle reacts to the greatness of Doncic:
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