DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Is there another explanation as to why Mavs superstar point guard Luka Doncic had his worst game of the postseason in his team's blowout loss to the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals?
According to TNT's play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan, who was on the call for Game 1, Doncic was under the weather.
"I hear he’s sick today,” Harlan told KNBR’s Greg Papa and John Lund on Thursday. “I guess he was up most of the night and ill. I’ve heard it now from two different people, so I’m assuming it’s probably true.”
The Warriors held Doncic to his worst scoring output of the postseason in Game 1, as he scored just 20 points on 6-18 shooting. He only had two points in the second half, and had more turnovers (7) than field goals made in the game.
“The body language that he showed, just the zest that he showed in Game 7 [of the Western Conference semifinals] in Phoenix was not there last night," Harlan said. "And I’m not sure if perhaps he was a little bit under the weather [during the game]. He didn’t play like he played in the Suns series, that’s for sure, and he needed every ounce of what he gives them, and that was not apparent.
"I don’t want to diminish at all what the Warriors did [defensively]," Harlan continued. "It was sound and clear cut, there’s no ambiguity there whatsoever. ... I’m just passing along what I heard from two people that he was up all night and sick."
To Doncic's credit, if he is under the weather, he made no mention of the illness in his postgame media session and also gave credit to the Warriors for their defensive efforts against him in Game 1.
“Great job. That's it,” he said. “That's all I've got to say. They did a great job."
Game 2 tips off at 8 p.m. CT Friday on TNT.
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