Why all signs point to Celtics closing out Mavericks in Game 5
Sports director Thomas Gable joins Follow The Money to discuss where the bulk of the public money has come in so far for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and why all signs are pointing to a Celtics win, and championship celebration at home.
Even with his Dallas Mavericks trailing 3-1 in the NBA Finals, Luka Doncic is on the verge of making basketball history.
The 25-year-old is tracking to become the first player to lead a single NBA playoffs in points, rebounds, assists and steals since steals were first tracked in 1973-74, Sportsnet Stats can confirm.
Doncic has 607 points, 196 rebounds, 173 assists, 38 steals and, for good measure, also has a post-season-leading seven triple-doubles.
With the series moving back to Boston for Game 5 on Monday, the five-time All-Star isn’t just leading in those categories, but he’s lapping the field. His teammate Kyrie Irving is second in points with 472, Celtics star Jayson Tatum is second in rebounds with 176, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is second in assists with 123 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is second in steals with 24.
It would likely take the series to go to seven games or a Doncic injury for any other player to even have a shot at overtaking him in any of the four categories.
Doncic is averaging 28.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.8 steals through 21 games in these playoffs, guiding the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Timberwolves on their path to the Finals.
The Slovenian star would undoubtedly like to extend the series to seven and take home his first NBA title in exchange for any stat-based record, but win or lose, there is no denying he has had a special post-season run.