LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 2, 2021

Luka Doncic

Postgame Press Conference

Dallas Mavericks - 105, Los Angeles Clippers - 100

Q. You've obviously had massive playoff performances before. Do you even get surprised at yourself sometimes at the kind of performances that have you in these kind of moments the way that you did tonight in a game that you guys obviously had to have in this series?

LUKA DONCIC: I mean, I got to play way better. I missed a lot of shots, some layups that I should make. But it wasn't just me, man. It was the whole team, the energy, Boba was unbelievable, DP, Dwight Powell, with his energy, KP with a big shot, Timmy with a big shot. The whole team was just there bringing up the energy.

Q. Just wondering from your past playoff experience in Europe what was the series or sort of games that you remember playing there that taught you the most that you can apply and that translate to playoffs in the NBA?

LUKA DONCIC: I mean, I remember being physical. They were physical. But it's big games. You got to play hard. You got to play with heart. I don't know what else to say. But it was physical. You got to be ready for everything.

Q. Do you remember how young you were when you played your first really big, this is really important big deal playoff game?

LUKA DONCIC: Probably like 17. 18, 17. We lost in semi-finals, so.

Q. What's the past few days been like with managing the injuries and how was it feeling throughout the game?

LUKA DONCIC: I mean, it wasn't nothing that was that much. Just like I said, some massages, iced down. And the most important thing was rest and, like I said, massage. Today was, I was feeling way better.

Q. It looked like when you were sitting out those first couple minutes, literally two minutes of the fourth quarter, you were getting pretty fidgety over there. What was going through your mind and was there conversation between you and Rick about when you were going in? Because you hopped off the bench pretty quickly there.

LUKA DONCIC: I mean, no, I just saw him calling me. So I mean, I was ready anytime. But like I say, in the fourth, I didn't play great. I didn't play good. Some shots was in and out, but we won the game, and that's all that matters right now.

Q. What did you think of the big lineup with Boban? And obviously you guys are playing zone defensively, how does that change things for you offensively?

LUKA DONCIC: I mean that was a pretty big challenge for all of us. We got to change our game plan, but as you see, I mean it turned out great. We'll see what we do next time, but I think everybody was great today.

Q. I think you said your instinct is kind of that you're always looking to pass first, so I'm curious if you ever remember a game you've taken 37 shots in and whether you're prepared to keep shooting that many times if the need so arises the rest of the series.

LUKA DONCIC: I think it was too much. I shot some shots that I shouldn't have shot. Honestly, I think it was too much. But like I said, I missed a couple layups, a couple shots. I think I was good from three, but I missed a couple layups. But we got a win. Like I say, that's all that matters at the end of the day and, you know, that's it.