Even if Celtics win Game 5 vs. Mavericks, Luka Doncic will almost certainly make NBA history
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.
If the Boston Celtics finish off the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, Luka Doncic is bound to make NBA history.
No matter how much longer the best-of-seven set lasts, Doncic has all but locked up the top spot in points, assists, rebounds and steals for the 2024 postseason.
The 25-year-old has poured in 607 points through the Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals and four games into the championship round, recorded 196 rebounds, 173 assists and 38 steals.
Teammate Kyrie Irving is second during the playoffs with 472 points, so it would take a Doncic injury in Game 5 and Dallas still somehow stretching the series to seven games to give Uncle Drew a chance to surpass the regular-season scoring champion.
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers is second in assists during the playoffs (123) and with Celtics star Jayson Tatum at 108 helpings, he's much too far behind Doncic.
The closest chance anyone would have to dash Doncic's chance at individual history (though still unrealistic) is where Tatum is 20 rebounds behind his counterpart at 176 boards. Minnesota Timberwolves standout Anthony Edwards is second behind the Slovenian at 24 steals, with Irving well behind his backcourt mate at 22.
Doncic leads the Association in scores of other categories during the 2024 postseason, including field goals made and attempted (213, 479), three-point field goals made and attempted (66, 202), free throws made and attempted (115, 148), turnovers (83) and win shares (2.9), among others.
Of course, Doncic's numbers are boosted not only due to his team's run through four rounds of the playoffs but also how the Mavericks' first two series wins took six games and their Western Conference Finals victory against the Timberwolves took five contests.
The Celtics, meanwhile, played three fewer games leading up to the NBA Finals, taking care of the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and the Indiana Pacers in a four-game sweep.
The five-time All-Star guard would surely love to finish off his sixth season by making individual history, but he'd certainly sacrifice that to be a part of the first team to come back from a 3-0 playoff deficit and win a title.
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