Dereck Lively II Releases Stark Warning For Luka Doncic Ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals

The Dallas Mavericks will attempt to win their first road game of the NBA Finals tonight in Boston, three days after Luka Doncic and the Mavs knocked off the Celtics by a score of 122-84.

Doncic scored 29 points to lead Jason Kidd's team to their first victory of the series while the Celtics' dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was held to just 25 points between them.

Following the game, Mavericks center Dereck Lively II shared an impassioned plea for the Mavericks' Slovenian superstar that could ultimately decide the outcome of Monday's game, and the series.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate after a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter of game five of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Lively II believes Doncic's level of focus is important considering the immense challenge of going up against the Celtics' talented guards and forwards. He had a message for Doncic in light of Doncic previously fouling out in Game 3, the Mavericks' only home loss of the series so far.

"The first two times you get fouled, don't saying nothing to the refs, that's I got," Lively II said according to Mavericks reporter Noah Weber on X.

"Just please don't do that," Lively II added, prompting the Mavericks reporter to share that the Mavericks' center has "unbelievable" leadership that is not common for a rookie.

The Mavericks have actually outscored the Celtics so far during the series at an average of 102 points to 100.5. They've outrebounded the Celtics by almost seven rebounds per game but the Celtics have done a much better job of sharing the basketball with 24 assists per game to 16.5 for the Mavericks.

Doncic leads all players in assists during the NBA Finals with 29.5 points per game and 5.8 assists per game.

After a disastrous start to the series, the 6-foot-7, 230 point guard/forward has quietly lived up to Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle's 'Best Player in the World' boast. Now, the hope for Mavericks fans is that he can stay locked in for the entire game, long enough to stage an upset and send this series back to Dallas for Game 6.