They've been dubbed "LuKai" by kids on social media, and they're the Mavericks duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, the most potent one-two punch in the NBA today.
On Sunday, the highest-scoring backcourt in the league helped Dallas erase a 22-point deficit in a 147-136 overtime win over Houston.
KYRIE IRVING TODAY:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 7, 2024
48 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 60% FG
LUKA DONCIC TODAY:
37 PTS, 9 REB, 12 AST, 57% FG
pic.twitter.com/RIYKDJgRYS
Irving and Doncic, who each played 45 minutes, shared a heartfelt embrace as the final few seconds ticked off the clock in overtime. The duo knew it had earned this win.
This combo. Forever. #MFFL | @dallasmavs on @BallySports pic.twitter.com/aDHDfd91I6
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) April 7, 2024
After the game, Irving explained why he and Doncic walked into each other's arms after the exhausting overtime contest.
"At the end of the game, Luke was like, 'I'm tired, man,'" Irving told reporters. "That's why I just hugged him at the end of the game. He left it all out there... That was one of those in-the-moment type things for us, as brothers, to embrace each other. We know how hard we've worked and how much work it took to get to this point in the season."
As Irving and Doncic continue to reap the rewards of their hard work, the rest of the West should feel jittery about facing them in a seven-game series.
That's because the Mavs have gone 14-2 in their last 16 games, and have the best winning percentage in the NBA since the start of March.
LuKai will be a force to be reckoned with this postseason.
Couldn’t pick just one… This brotherhood is something special @GermaniaIns1896 // #PhotoOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/y2tBHulPCZ
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 8, 2024
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