Mavericks’ Dynamic Duo

Luka Doncic couldn’t hide his elation following the Dallas Mavericks’ commanding Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, and the reason for his joy was clear.

With this victory, Doncic and the Mavericks punched their ticket to the 2024 NBA Finals, where they’ll face off against the formidable Boston Celtics. But Thursday night was about savoring the moment.

The Mavericks triumphed with a 124-103 win, propelled by the dynamic duo of Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Both stars reflected on the journey ahead, but Doncic couldn’t resist throwing a playful dig at his veteran teammate.

Grinning, Doncic quipped, “We’ve got a young team, except for Kyrie. Kyrie’s getting old.”

Doncic, just 25, is right about the Mavericks' youthful roster. However, his playful remark about Irving stands out when you look at the team’s age dynamics. At 32, Irving is the second-oldest Maverick, only surpassed by Markieff Morris, who is 34. The Dallas roster features just five players over 30: Morris, Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, and Dwight Powell.

Despite being one of the team’s seasoned players, Irving hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Thursday’s game was a testament to his enduring skill, as Irving racked up 36 points, hitting 14 of 27 shots, including 4 of 10 from beyond the arc, while also contributing five assists and four rebounds.