The Mavericks pulled off an incredible win over the Grizzlies Wednesday night, escaping 114-113. Luka Doncic made one of the wildest buzzer beaters you’ll ever see, and afterward, the rest of the Mavericks had plenty to say about it:
Rick Carlisle on the unique nature of the Mavericks’ win:
“The last play was amazing. It’s a game where, if you look at the last minute or so, in those situations, you pull off a miracle in a game like that once in a blue moon. It just doesn’t happen very often.”
Carlisle on Luka Doncic’s shot:
“Luka made one of the signature, special shots that you’re going to see for a long time.”
“You expect him to make these shots. The fact that it was running and off the wrong foot, in the context of what he’s capable of, these are shots he makes all the time.”
Carlisle on Doncic’s shooting prowess:
“I can’t tell you how many thousand dollars I’ve lost to him on half-court shots. One time in Mexico City our second year I paid him off in pesos because I was so pissed about it. I don’t bet with him anymore. I’ve seen him do everything, I’ve seen him call swishes from half court, I’ve seen him kick the ball in from 40 feet. Anytime we walk into practice and he’s sitting on a table getting stretched out behind a basket and says ‘Hey coach if I make the shot is practice over?’ And I always go ‘Forget it, no way.’ He’s going to make the shot.”
Carlisle on Doncic’s mindset:
“He expects to make these shots. He expects to make 60-footers.”
Carlisle on escaping with the win:
“This is one of those joyous nights where we escaped. We had Houdini. And you know, he got us out of here alive.”
Doncic on clutch moments:
“Sometimes you’re going to make it, but sometimes your going to miss it, too. So you gotta take that too. I think that’s the most important part. If my team trusts me in that moment, you know, I’ll keep working on it.”
Kristaps Porzingis on what allows Doncic to succeed in clutch moments:
“He’s just a special talent. He doesn’t surprise us anymore with these shots. It’s unbelievable. You love to watch it.”
Dwight Powell on clutch moments bringing out the best in Doncic:
“First and foremost he’s a competitor. He wants to win. Secondly, he’s not afraid of those big moments at all. He embraces that moment fully. That shot may look weird to you guys but we’ve seen him make shots like that all the time in practice. He’s not afraid of the moment. That’s the biggest thing. He’ll find a way to help us win regardless of the situation.”