As playoff run ends, Luka Doncic says improving his defense can take Dallas Mavericks 'to the next level'

SAN FRANCISCO — Luka Doncic's initial reaction to the end of the longest playoff run of his young NBA career was to express disappointment in himself.

«I don't like losing, especially like this,» Doncic said after the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated Thursday night with a 120-110 Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors. «I played terrible.»

Doncic finished his final game of the season with 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but it was a performance that fell far short of his high standards, especially in potential elimination games. He was only 10-of-28 from the floor, including 3-of-13 from 3-point range, and frequently failed to get back on defense after his misses.

Doncic scored 15 points as the Mavs rallied in the third quarter, but Dallas couldn't overcome a deficit that swelled to 25 points in part due to his poor performance in the first half, when he was just 2-of-12 from the floor with three turnovers.

Nevertheless, it was the 10th time in these playoffs that Doncic led Dallas in points, rebounds and assists, breaking the record set by LeBron James in 2013 for the most such outings in a single postseason. He averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists to lead the Mavericks, who had last won a playoff series during the franchise's 2011 championship run, to the Western Conference finals.

«If we talk about our season, I'm really proud of this team — everybody, every player, every staff member,» Doncic said. «Nobody had us here. But I promise we fought until the end. Congratulations to Warriors. They were obviously the better team. But I'm really proud of this team.»

Warriors coach Steve Kerr described Doncic as «impossible to guard.» At 23, Doncic has already proven to be a historically elite