Dallas Mavs Star Luka Doncic Credits Full Offseason for Success with Kyrie Irving

Things didn’t go the way the Dallas Mavericks planned after trading for Kyrie Irving last season, but an influx of new talent and a full offseason with Luka Doncic has changed the team’s ceiling for this season.

The Dallas Mavericks are off to a glowing 6-1 start, and their star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving is thriving … especially in clutch situations.

There was no better example of this than on Monday night, as the Mavs took on the Orlando Magic on the road and on a second night of a back-to-back. Despite being down 15 points at one point, the Mavs surged back to capture a 117-102 win thanks to the clutch heroics of Doncic and Irving.

“It is a great and very tough win for us,” Doncic said. “We just need to keep on fighting … keep playing defense, and it will lead a long way.”

There was a 20-second sequence in the fourth quarter that showcased just how lethal Doncic and Irving can be when closing out games. Doncic got Irving a wide-open 3 with a one-handed pass at the 2:11 mark to give Dallas a 111-100 lead. Then, after grabbing a rebound and sprinting up the floor on the following possession, Irving returned the favor, finding Doncic for a wide-open spot-up 3 to put Dallas up 114-100.

Just a tremendous sequence... first Luka finds Kyrie wide open for a three, and then Kyrie finds Luka wide open in transition for another wide open three... and another win. Perfection! pic.twitter.com/KfMjTj7Z09

— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) November 7, 2023

Doncic finished the game with a team-high 29 points on 5-10 shooting from deep while also tallying six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Irving finished with 21 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and three steals while being a team-high tying +18 for the game. Doncic credits having a full offseason with Irving for their newfound success together.

Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving embrace during Sunday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

“Because [Kyrie and I] have preseason together,” Doncic said. “We can practice together, so it is a lot easier than coming here and not having any practice and just getting into the games. Sometimes they are going to double him, and sometimes they are going to double me, and we just keep everybody up, and me or him is going to make a play.”

The fact that the Mavs are having such early success despite Irving finding his usually-efficient stroke from deep should be a good sign for Dallas going forward. Not only has Irving shown that he can put an opposing team away while playing alongside Doncic, but he’s also proven to be an elite facilitator even when Doncic is on the bench, enabling other guys on the roster to gain confidence.

It’s still early, but it looks like the Mavs are going to be a force in the Western Conference if health permits. Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for upcoming coverage of the Mavs’ next game against the Toronto Raptors at American Airlines Center on Wednesday.