Doncic put his mark on NBA history in sensational maiden playoff run

The Los Angeles Clippers finally put a fork in the Dallas Mavericks' season after six challenging games. It's not shocking to see the powerhouse Clippers - long considered among the top contenders for the 2020 title thanks to their deep, star-laden roster - send the seventh-seeded Mavericks packing from the NBA's bubble in Orlando.

However, second-year point-forward Luka Doncic's play looked surprisingly polished in defeat. At the ripe age of 21, the Mavs' Slovenian floor general averaged 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists across the series - numbers never seen in a player's first trip to the playoffs.

Doncic's numbers were eye-popping, even without additional context. He's displayed the type of raw production normalized only by generational talents like James Harden, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook in recent years.

"He's a great player," stoic Clippers star Kawhi Leonard speculated immediately after Game 6. "I think it's his first playoffs. He battled every minute he was out there on the floor, didn't back down, led his team every game. He did a hell of a job out there."

However, after accounting for everything else that happened in the series, Doncic's performance quickly ascends to legendary status.

Consider the following:

• Doncic's 42 points in Game 1 marked the most by a player in his postseason debut.
• He suffered a left ankle sprain midway through Game 3; not only did he remain in the lineup for the remainder of the series, but he also averaged just under 40 minutes per game between Games 4-6.
• Already facing intense focus from a Clippers defense boasting Leonard and Paul George - owners of nine All-Defensive selections - a hobbled Doncic played without his best teammate, Kristaps Porzingis, from Game 4 onward.
• Doncic's two triple-doubles in the series (Game 3 and 4) already match the career playoff triple-double totals of Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan. In terms of pace, it took LeBron nine career playoff games to reach two triple-doubles.
• His two 40-point games in the series (42 in Game 1; 43 in Game 4) rank as the second and third-most points scored by someone 21-or-under in NBA postseason history (LeBron scored 45 in 2006).

And, of course, there was Doncic's heroic shot in overtime of Game 4 - the second-longest buzzer-beater in postseason history, according to ESPN.

Dallas' postseason may be over, but Doncic's incredible August run remains unforgettable.