It’s always so hot between Rudy Gobert and Luka Doncic

“I think I’m fouled twice, but I know the referee. He wasn’t going to whistle the foul. But I think it was a foul on me, and that’s it.

Luka Doncic had left Salt Lake City particularly frustrated ten days ago, after being eaten a good tarp from Rudy Gobert in the final moments of the game that had sealed the victory of the Jazz (114-109).

To top it all off, the Slovenian had been heckled by the public. As much to say that the Mavs’ point guard had undoubtedly checked the date of this reunion at home and showed himself up to the appointment tonight, while the two teams are now neck and neck in the standings.

Provocations and interceptions

After several passes between the two players, Luka Doncic first tried to provoke Rudy Gobert’s second technical foul on unintentional contact by calling for a review of the foul, allowing the referees to see that it was an unintentional and non-hazardous move by the Frenchman.

“It was an important game. They are not far ahead of us, these games are always going to be heated. I thought he had gone crazy, and then I saw that it was actually nothing. We were all laughing about it on the bench”, admitted the Slovenian who really didn’t need this little mischief as he shone so much ball in hand.

The point guard distinguished himself by his defense, causing a loss of ball after an interception this time reviewed and validated by the referees. In the aftermath, Spencer Dinwiddie stuck a 3-pointer already decisive. Moments later, it was thanks to a new interception on Donovan Mitchell followed by an alley-oop to Dorian Finney-Smith that Luka Doncic contributed to tip the game in favor of the Mavs.

“I think that’s the area where I’ve improved the most this season,” he added after praising his team’s overall collective effort on defense.

Fourth place in sight

But his best shot will undoubtedly be his 3-pointer against Rudy Gobert to put an exclamation point on his XXL performance and guide Dallas to victory. This one also allows to continue to aim for the fourth place, a challenge that Luka Doncic also takes to heart.

“For us, home court advantage is something very important. We’ve never had it since I’ve been here, so we’re clearly going to try to get it,” he said.

Ironically, after Luka Doncic in the last game, it is Rudy Gobert who had to control his nerves this time after experiencing the hostile atmosphere of the American Airlines Center, he did not really appreciate the provocations of Luka Doncic.

“He said something in my ear and tried to heat me up to get me mad. But I knew what he was trying to do,” he said, also lamenting the attitude of the Texas bench players. “I have to keep my cool because the team needs me in the game. On the other hand, when you have guys who are on the bench and not playing, just talking and not stopping, while the referees do not hear and do nothing, I say to myself: ‘Is it worth being suspended?’ But we should not have to ask the question”.

Statements that confirm the importance of home court advantage in a playoff series.