Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks wasted no time in Game 3 of their first-round matchup with the LA Clippers, and NBA Twitter erupted over their hot start.
Game 3 Friday night was arguably the biggest game in LA Clippers franchise history. After falling down 0-2 at home to the Dallas Mavericks, winning this road game was critical for a team that entered the 2021 NBA Playoffs with legitimate title aspirations.
Unfortunately for the Clippers, Luka Doncic and the Mavs came out laser-focused to put their opponent in another early hole.
Just over two minutes into Game 3, Dallas already had an 8-0 lead in its first playoff game at home since 2016 … and all eight points belonged to Doncic, who’s rapidly become a Clippers killer. As such, NBA Twitter could immediately smell the blood in the water, erupting over the early deficit and how frazzled LA looked.
NBA Twitter was eating it up as Luka Doncic went off on the Clippers yet again
For starters, we can’t go any further without acknowledging how much Doncic personally torments this LA team. The disrespect on these step-backs!
Luka has all 8 PTS to open the game on ESPN! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/AjhR72WhDh
— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2021
Luka hits the stepback 3 over Ivica Zubac and says "He can't guard me." pic.twitter.com/FxeLjNCMY4
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) May 29, 2021
LUKA GOING NUCLEAR TO START GAME 3 💥 pic.twitter.com/mffZWGfYGF
— ESPN (@espn) May 29, 2021
It was awesome seeing Doncic so fired up in front of a massive Mavs crowd at the American Airlines Center, and the home team quickly built up a 28-11 lead.
People quickly noticed how ruthless Doncic was as he repeatedly targeted poor Ivica Zubac on his step-backs.
Three Ivica Zubac switches, three Luka Doncic buckets. Mavs 8, Clippers 0 and a perhaps concerned Ty Lue calls timeout.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 29, 2021
Zubac when he gets switched onto Luka pic.twitter.com/k5zSEjAsUH
— Alexis Morgan (@alexismorgan) May 29, 2021
Others couldn’t help but point out how the Clippers’ defensive strategy has had absolutely no answers for Doncic for the last two years now:
Clippers have had absolutely no clue how to stop Luka for two yrs now
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) May 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/JaMorant/status/1398457848846336003?s=20
BREAKING: Luka Doncic has just purchased the LA Clippers from Steve Ballmer officially making him their new owner. pic.twitter.com/BLWEnBvjfd
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) May 29, 2021
Luka to the clippers https://t.co/nOmaodHVUE
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) May 29, 2021
Either way, there’s no question we are witnessing greatness from a superstar who’s still only 22 years old.
I mean, if Luka wants the be the best player ever, I would not object
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) May 29, 2021
LUKA ALREADY IN THAT MODE AND TALKING SHIT
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 29, 2021
Luka is quickly moving up my favorite players list, this guy doesn’t make sense
— Rusty Buckets (@RustyBUCKETS321) May 29, 2021
“Make Luka a scorer.”
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2021
/Luka later holds up the 100 sign
It’s still early, and the Clippers went on a late first-quarter run to cut Dallas’ lead back down to single digits (with Doncic sidelined, of course), but there’s no question Luka’s early run was a memorable moment with LA on the ropes.