MY ACCOUNT
Jason Kidd called on Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks team-mates to “join the party” after the Slovenian star’s 45-point haul was not enough to deny the Phoenix Suns a Game 1 win.
The top-seeded Suns drew first blood in the Western Conference semi-finals on Monday, winning 121-114 at Footprint Center on Monday.
Three-time NBA All-Star Doncic was outstanding yet again, also taking 12 rebounds and providing eight assists to go with his huge tally of points.
Maxi Kleber was the second-highest points scorer for the Mavs with 19 and coach Kidd says Doncic will need more support ahead of Game 2 in Phoenix on Wednesday.
Kidd said: “He [Doncic] got whatever he wanted, when you look at the shots in the paint, behind the arc, midrange and then also I thought he got his team-mates some great looks that we normally had made.
“I thought he played great. We’ve just got to get someone to join the party.”
Doncic did not brush over his analysis over where the Mavs had fallen short as he urged them to “attack the paint.”
He said: “We’ve just got to attack more paint. I settled for a little too much step-backs for me. Attacking the paint is our lethal weapon.
“When we do that, we can score easily, especially with five-out and they’ve got a big rotating. We’ve got to attack more paint.”
Deandre Ayton led the way for the Suns with 25, while Devin Booker posted 23 and had eight assists.
Suns coach Monty Williams said: “‘I liked the fact that we weren’t settling for threes. A lot of guys were attacking the paint, we were getting floaters and rim shots.”
