NBA: Doncic's despair at a huge LeBron: “I feel like I don't know how to play basketball” | NBA 2019

After missing five free throws, the base tore his shirt, while four times MVP sum 35 points and 16 rebounds.

The scene came live to every corner of the United States on national television. In the absence of a minute to the end of the first quarter, with his team 19 points down, Luka Doncic tore the neck of his shirt, scorched with frustration. “I played very badly. I felt like I didn't know about basketball. It wasn't me. I have to improve. And a lot,” admitted the Mavericks base. His 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists of nothing served the deployment of some Lakers guided by a huge LeBron James (114-129).

The King sum 35 points and 16 rebounds in Dallas for the seventh consecutive victory of his team, the best streak of the course. “It's not about knowing how many straight games we can win, but about improving every night and we know today,” MVP analyzed four times. His absolute dominance of the situation was forged from the beginning, by scoring or assisting in the first nine baskets of his team, which closed the first quarter with an advantage of 22 points.

By then, Doncic had missed his first five free throws and the Mavericks did not know how to take advantage of Anthony Davis' last minute absence, with back pain after his last Tuesday against the Knicks. The responsibility under the rings was assumed by Kyle Kuzma (26 points, six rebounds), well supported by Javale McGee and Dwight Howard, who failed none of their eight pitches.

“Certain defensive licenses”

The 79 points embedded in the break revealed the defensive plan of Rick Carlisle, whose anger was increasing as the night progressed. In the last quarter, after his second technique, he was expelled by the referees and Stephen Silas had to assume the direction in an American Airlines Center with many seats already empty.

Forgotten the incident, Carlisle focused on protecting Doncic. “He is 20 years old. At that same age I had just enrolled in the University of Maine. And I did not even know how to wind my wristwatch,” says the technician. “Sometimes, his rivals take certain defensive licenses against him. He continues to learn to deal with all that, but it is not simple,” he concluded after the fourth and last duel of the course against the Lakers, clear dominators (3-1).

However, since the victory at the Staples Center on December 1, Texans have fallen in nine of their next 19 games, while the leaders of the West accumulated 14 victories in 18 games. Tonight, the Angels visit Oklahoma, while the Mavs receive Philadelphia.