So this Luka Doncic guy, huh? The 2022 NBA playoffs took an interesting turn on Sunday when the Dallas Mavericks dismantled the Phoenix Suns 123-90.
The lopsided Dallas win ensured that for the first time since 2011, neither of the top two seeds will be playing in the Western Conference finals. It also meant the two teams that competed in last year's NBA Finals were eliminated from playoff contention on the same day -- the Boston Celtics blew out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in an earlier Game 7.
Doncic's heroics (35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes) were a stark contrast to the woes of Phoenix stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul, who were both held scoreless in the first half. Another Mav, Spencer Dinwiddie, had himself a night off the bench, scoring a playoff career-high 30 points.
In the least shocking development of the largest road win in a Game 7 since 1948, the untimely postseason exit of the NBA's only 64-win team had the association talking.
Whether it was bemoaning whatever the heck was going on with the Suns or basking in the glow of Doncic and Dinwiddie's conference championship berth-worthy performance, NBA Twitter didn't hold back:
Game musings ...
Damn nobody saw this coming. Dallas game plan and execution is on another level!! Sheesh
— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) May 16, 2022
Dang....I really hope CP3 gets a championship before he retires. He deserves one 🏆 #legend
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) May 16, 2022
that's crazy how no team is guaranteed anything from one year to another!!
— Clint Capela (@CapelaClint) May 16, 2022
What am I witnessing right now ..... this suns - mavs game 😳 @ESPNNBA
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) May 16, 2022
Real question... why hasn't McGee been playing . High energy guy on your bench during a rough stretch could of used him way earlier 🤷🏽♂️
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) May 16, 2022
Let's go mavs chants up in here...
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) May 16, 2022
It's rare to see great players be great head coaches.. jkidd is one of them ones ♟
— kuz (@kylekuzma) May 16, 2022
suns look shook
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022
I mean I ain't score in the first half before.. still had like 35 something it's still possible
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) May 16, 2022
Suns gotta wake up they playing scary
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) May 16, 2022
No way Phoenix loses this game!
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) May 16, 2022
Luka praise ...
He mean muggin these dudes !! 😂
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 16, 2022
Told y'all LuKA
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) May 16, 2022
@luka7doncic Ladies And Gentlemen 🔥🔥🔥🔥🤯🤯🤯🤯
— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) May 16, 2022
luka wilding 😂🔥💯
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022
wayne at the game too 😂 luka took dat personal
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022
Chill 77
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) May 16, 2022
Luka going crazy sheesh
— Alex Caruso (@ACFresh21) May 16, 2022
Love for Dinwiddie ...
Name something hotter than the sun: Luka & Dinwiddie
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) May 16, 2022
Dinwiddie goin crazy!!
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) May 16, 2022
Spencer 👀👀👀 going crazy high key too! #MavsSuns @NBAonTNT
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) May 16, 2022
ESPN Stats & Information research contributed to this story.
