2023-10-10 21:55:30
A standing ovation, three 3-point shots and then… curtain. Luka Doncic’s return to Madrid on Tuesday was cut short due to discomfort in his left calf, in an NBA preseason match where Real beat Dallas (127-123).
As a precaution, the Slovenian prodigy only played 4 min 59 sec, still scoring 9 points thanks to three award-winning shots, before going to sit on the bench.
“No one wanted to play this match more than me, but I had a pain in my calf yesterday in training… it’s nothing serious but I didn’t want to make it worse,” explained Luka Doncic ahead of the press. “You know me, I would have liked to play more minutes but I couldn’t.”
An hour before kick-off, a sea of Mavericks jerseys printed with “Doncic 77” gathered in front of the doors of the Sports Palace in the Spanish capital, testifying to the still intact popularity of the 24-year-old fullback, five years after his departure for the United States.
But from the warm-up, the clamor that had risen from the stands when their favorite entered was silenced, Doncic appearing to be injured in the left calf. He still received a rockstar welcome with chants of “Luuuka, Luuuka”, from the 15,000 spectators, before taking the microphone:
“I don’t know what to say. It’s a very special day for me, thank you to everyone with whom I spent seven years here, and thank you to all of you,” he told the crowd, before to start the match strapped at the calf.
Tim Hardaway Jr of the Dallas Mavericks shoots in front of Madrid’s Walter Tavares during the preseason match between the two teams on October 10, 2023 in Madrid
AFP
American show
On the floor, the start of the match brought together all the ingredients of an American-style show: cheerleaders, popcorn, dance cam, but above all a rain of 3-point shots, very light defenses and a few dunks to make raise the crowds.
Luka Doncic had time to strike three times from behind the arc, responding to the insolent address of his ex-teammate and friend Sergio Llull, before leaving the floor to the applause of the public, who did not suspect then that the N.77 will not play it again.
The atmosphere obviously suffered, and it was the Spaniards who took the lead, thanks to Llull (19 points) and the three Frenchmen, Vincent Poirier (19 points, 10 rebounds), Guerschon Yabusele (18 points and 9 rebounds) and Fabien Causeur (7 points).
On the American side, Tim Hardaway Jr (21 points) took the reins, well relayed by Josh Green and Grant Williams, and the Mavs took the lead just before the end of the second quarter (71-65).
They widened the gap in the third, only to end up cracking 2 minutes from time, the Madrilenians managing to win against the American substitutes thanks to an irresistible Facundo Campazzo in the money-time.
Merengue supporters have called for the return of their idol on several occasions, in vain, the Texan staff having preferred to preserve their nugget before the start of the regular season.
Derrick Jones Jr, of the Dallas Mavericks, smashes in front of Madrid’s Hugo Gonzalez during the preseason match between the two teams on October 10, 2023 in Madrid
AFP
Because after a grueling tour in Abu Dhabi, Dallas now has a meeting with Detroit for a final preparation match, before starting the NBA championship against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs on October 26.
And if some supporters and observers leave the Madrid venue frustrated, the many children present in the front rows will fall asleep this evening with stars in their eyes, after having seen (or re-watched) “Luka Magic” up close. For a few minutes.
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