Luka Dončić Hails SGA's ‘Unbelievable’ Game 4 Performance

Patrick Andres | May 14, 2024

May 11, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić (77) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2). / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

This NBA season featured a spirited three-way debate over which of three players—Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić—should win the league's MVP award.

Jokić may have taken home the accolade, but Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić have won the right to battle in the playoffs—and, in doing so, to bring out the best in each other.

Both players were in fine form during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday. Dončić put up a triple-double, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and took over down the stretch to guide the Thunder to victory.

"He was unbelievable," Dončić said succinctly of his Canadian counterpart. "He kept making shots, and maybe at some point we got to send double-teams. He's just too good."

For those keeping score at home: Gilgeous-Alexander has the upper hand in points, blocks, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage, but Dončić leads in rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. Gilgeous-Aleander leads in offensive rating, but Dončić leads in defensive rating. And, thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics, the series is tied.

Game 5 of a series that will define how fans view two of the game's young comets is Wednesday evening in Oklahoma City.