Luka Magic strikes again: Doncic drains game-winning 3-point floater to give Mavs crucial win over Grizzlies

Luka Doncic raised his arms.

He smiled at the sparse crowd in Memphis’ FedEx Forum.

Luka Magic struck, once again.

With 1.8 seconds remaining in the Mavericks’ 114-113 win over the Grizzlies, Doncic received an in-bound pass from Maxi Kleber on the left wing, where he’s proven so lethal in clutch situations.

He took a dribble, launched an off-balance 3-pointer from one foot -- his non-dominant left -- while crouching through two Grizzlies defenders and saved the Mavericks from what would’ve been a third consecutive loss.

Goodbye to worries about the Mavericks’ missing a chance to gain some ground in the Western Conference standings on a night they appeared sluggish until clutch time.

Hello to another iconic national TV buzzer beater for the Mavericks’ uber-talented superstar.

“This is one of those joyous, joyous nights where we escaped,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We had Houdini, and he got us out of here alive.”

Doncic finished with 29 points — 25 of which came in the second half — and added nine assists and five rebounds. He showed chemistry with Kristaps Porzingis (21 points), dazzled with cross-court and behind-the-back passes, and ensured Memphis guard Grayson Allen will lament his final touches.

Allen, who led the Grizzlies with 23 points, tormented Dallas with hot shooting for most of the night but also paved the way for Doncic’s heroics.

After Doncic missed the second of two foul shots with 3.2 seconds remaining and the Mavericks down 113-111, the Grizzlies grabbed the rebound and Dallas fouled Allen.

The former Duke guard, who’s shooting 90.6% on free throws this year, missed both.

Doncic hoped for that when Allen went to the line. He knew he still had plenty of time to work.

“I don’t really remember,” Doncic said of whether he got a look at the rim before his game-winning heave. “I was really surprised when it went in, and you know, those are the best feelings ever.”

After trailing by as many as nine points in the game and six points in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks erased a five-point Grizzlies lead in the last 1:03 and outscored them 31-24 in the final period.

Doncic stymied Grizzlies guard Ja Morant on a layup attempt with 1:18 remaining. From there, the Mavericks finished on an 8-2 run.

That moment helped cement a first for Doncic: He earned the Mavericks’ defensive player of the game belt for the first time this season and marveled at his two-steal, one-block stat line during a postgame Zoom with reporters.

But Doncic’s final moment on the court was nothing new.

For more than two years, Porzingis has watched Doncic “messing around” with trick shots in workouts — and making them so often it’s become regular practice for possible in-game situations.

In the last year, Doncic has also hit buzzer-beater threes from similar spots against the Celtics in February and the Clippers in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series last summer. And who can forget his rainbow-arching, overtime-forcing 3-pointer against the Trail Blazers as a rookie?

Carlisle hasn’t, though he’s since learned a lesson.

In their almost three years together, Carlisle and Doncic have often bet on whether Doncic can swish half-court shots.

Or kick the ball in from 40 feet out.

Or make buckets while stretching on the trainer’s table — behind the baskets in the practice facility.

By those standards, Carlisle expected Doncic’s latest challenge to be right on line.

“I can’t tell you how many thousands [of] dollars I’ve lost to him on half-court shots,” Carlisle said. “One time in Mexico City, our second year, I paid him off in pesos because I was so pissed about it. I don’t bet with him anymore because I’ve seen him do everything.”

+++

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.