The Luka Special: How the Phoenix Suns poked the bear

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 15: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

As the Dallas Mavericks made their way back down the tunnel after a Game 5 blowout loss, Luka Doncic had a few choice words for the Phoenix Suns.

“Everybody acts tough when they’re up,” yelled Doncic in the hallway, issuing a warning for what was soon to follow.

Last Tuesday, Phoenix’s 110-80 victory gave them a 3-2 stranglehold on the series, thus handing them two chances to close out the Mavericks and clinch a second consecutive Conference Finals berth.

The Luka Special: How the Phoenix Suns poked the bear that is Luka Doncic

Phoenix, without a doubt, was feeling themselves after the win. I mean, after racking up a league-best 64 regular-season wins, what’s one more? Especially against a team you’d beaten 11-straight times prior to this series.

Devin Booker personified the overconfidence oozing in Phoenix that night. After exaggerating a hard foul and laying on the floor for a few extra moments to collect himself, Booker turned to the home crowd and uttered: ‘The Luka Special.’

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It was nothing malicious, and all in good jest, of course. Booker was alluding to Luka Doncic’s tendency to flop and sell calls to the officials. And with Phoenix cruising towards a 30-point victory, Booker decided to tell a few jokes at his expense.

The antics between the two didn’t stop there either. Booker also snatched the ball directly from Doncic’s hands during a dead ball, to which a frustrated Doncic replied, ‘come on, man,’ plus a few expletives. A clip of this soon went viral and sent social media buzzing. Fans thought that the two stars really didn’t like each other, declaring this the next great NBA rivalry.

Doncic, however, took exception to Game 5’s antics. And unfortunately for Booker, he had just poked the bear. Doncic’s comment: ‘Everybody acts tough when they’re up,’ though caught on camera, was very much intended as a rally for his teammates. He was shining a light on what he perceived as front-running behavior by the Suns.

The Mavs star had called his shot. He hit Phoenix with the MJ quote and proceeded to drop 35 points in back-to-back games to send them home. It wasn’t close from that point on either. The Mavericks took it personally, blowing out the Suns by over 30 in both Games 6 and 7 to book their ticket to the next round.

In Game 7, Doncic laughed after every bucket he made whilst the Suns crumbled in historic fashion on their home floor. In basketball’s most pressure-cooker-like environment, Doncic just chuckled and toyed with his opponents. When asked if he was aware at halftime that he had as many points (27) as all the Suns – Doncic responded: ‘Oh yeah, of course.’

Though European, the stage wasn’t at all foreign to him. Doncic had captured Euro League titles and MVPs by the tender age of 18 – before he even stepped foot in Texas. Routinely now, he’s toyed with veteran defenders in the playoffs. He’s also claimed that: ‘It’s easier to score in the NBA than in Europe.’

In Europe, Luka Doncic played in games on the road with flares going off in the stands. Perhaps that is why he wasn’t fazed in a do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday night. That, and the fact that Doncic in elimination games has an average of 38.3 points per game – the highest in NBA history.

The scary thing is, Doncic is only 23 years. He’s playing at a level we haven’t seen a 23-year-old play at since LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the finals in 2007. Doncic is now one step from completing that same feat, with only Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors standing in his way.

The Western Conference finals get underway on Wednesday night in San Francisco. Though for now, we’ll bask in the greatness of Doncic and his takedown of the Phoenix Suns. A series in which he outscored Booker, out-assisted Chris Paul, and out-rebounded Deandre Ayton.

Luka Doncic called his shot and delivered in epic fashion. The Luka Special.