2022 NBA second-round playoff-series MVPs

After naming first-round MVPs, these will be our final series-MVP selections in the 2022 playoffs. The NBA will take over in the conference finals.

Mavericks 4, Suns 2: Luka Doncic

Devin Booker got knocked to the floor and stayed down seemingly longer than necessary in Game 5. As he popped up, Booker called it “the Luka Special.”

Booker inadvertently coined a term to describe Luka Doncic’s extraordinary feats.

Like leading Dallas to win the next two games and upset Phoenix. Like propelling the Mavericks to a 33-point Game 7 victory – the most lopsided road Game 7 win outside the Philadelphia Warriors beating the St. Louis Bombers 85-46 in 1948. Like averaging 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game in the series.

Doncic tormented the team that passed on him with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. He wasn’t even hot as an outside shooter (34% on 3-pointers), but he was masterful with his ball-handling, physicality and timing. Picked on defensively in Game 1, Doncic became at least up and down on that end.

The biggest flop was Phoenix, a regular-season juggernaut that got eliminated in the second round by a one-star team.

Heat 4, 76ers 2: Jimmy Butler

“Tobias Harris over me?!” Jimmy Butler yelled as he left the court after Game 6.

The most accurate framing of Philadelphia’s decision to sign-and-trade Butler in 2019? Maybe not.

But Butler earned the right to talk his talk.

Butler (27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game) outplayed Harris and every other 76er in this series. Butler took over as a scorer while still fitting into the team flow. His defense was superb as usual.

Knowing how to carry out a grudge, Butler got sweet revenge on his former team.

Warriors 4, Grizzlies 2: Stephen Curry