SAN FRANCISCO — Luka Doncic’s first reaction to ending the longest playoff run of his young NBA career was to express his 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 terribly.”

Doncic finished his last 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 off the ground, 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 close a deficit that swelled to 25 points in part due to his poor first-half performance when he was just 2 of 12 from the floor with three turnovers .

Still, it was the tenth time in this playoff that Doncic led Dallas in points, rebounds and assists, breaking LeBron James’ 2013 record for most such appearances in a single postseason. He averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists to lead the Mavericks, who last won a playoff series during the 2011 championship run, to the Western Conference Finals.

“When we talk about our season, I’m really proud of this team – everyone, every player, every staff member,” said Doncic. “Nobody had us here. But I promise we fought to the end. Congratulations to the 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 himself as a historic elite offensive threat in the playoffs and is the only player in NBA history, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, to average at least 30 points per game in each of his first three postseasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Doncic said he’s confident the Mavs are “on a great path” to becoming a championship team, but said he needs to make significant strides defensively for the team to reach those heights.

“I think the defense has to be a lot better for me,” said Doncic, who has often been targeted by playoff opponents. “Honestly, I think I’ve made a big step defensively this year, but there’s so much room for improvement. I have to be much better at that. I think that’s a point that can take us to the next level.”

Doncic also spoke about the “great relationship” he’s forged with Mavs first-year coach Jason Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard whose on-court leadership played a key role in the Mavs’ lone title. He stressed his confidence in Kidd, who had publicly challenged Doncic on a number of occasions this season, for example calling out him for arguing with umpires instead of running back on defense and urging him to get involved in defence .

Doncic won his third straight first-team All-NBA selection despite having to play his way into form. He reported to training camp in excess of 260 pounds for the second season in a row and didn’t perform like an MVP candidate until December, when he took three weeks off to recover from recurring ankle sprains and his condition to work.

Kidd didn’t specifically mention Doncic when he broke the news to the Mavs in the dressing room after the game, but it seemed destined for the superstar, who will spend much of the offseason playing for the Slovenia national team.

“Now the question is, what’s our appetite coming up next season?” Kidd said. “Are we going to tiptoe into the season or are we going to be hungry? Will we then train this summer to understand what it means to play until May and June? Because it’s a long season.”

Doncic has made steady improvements since his Rookie of the Year campaign, such as: B. Adding a Dirk Nowitzki-esque one-legged fadeaway and polishing his floater. Mavs management believe Doncic will return to Dallas with more.

“That’s what the big guys do,” Mavs Gov. Mark Cuban said. “He’s a top three, top one, top two player in this league and he’s going to keep improving. Some guys, who they are, are who they are. That’s not Luke. Luka will continue to get better. “

SAN FRANCISCO — Luka Doncic’s first reaction to ending the longest playoff run of his young NBA career was to express his 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 terribly.”

Doncic finished his last 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 off the ground, 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 close a deficit that swelled to 25 points in part due to his poor first-half performance when he was just 2 of 12 from the floor with three turnovers .

Still, it was the tenth time in this playoff that Doncic led Dallas in points, rebounds and assists, breaking LeBron James’ 2013 record for most such appearances in a single postseason. He averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists to lead the Mavericks, who last won a playoff series during the 2011 championship run, to the Western Conference Finals.

“When we talk about our season, I’m really proud of this team – everyone, every player, every staff member,” said Doncic. “Nobody had us here. But I promise we fought to the end. Congratulations to the 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 himself as a historic elite offensive threat in the playoffs and is the only player in NBA history, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, to average at least 30 points per game in each of his first three postseasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Doncic said he’s confident the Mavs are “on a great path” to becoming a championship team, but said he needs to make significant strides defensively for the team to reach those heights.

“I think the defense has to be a lot better for me,” said Doncic, who has often been targeted by playoff opponents. “Honestly, I think I’ve made a big step defensively this year, but there’s so much room for improvement. I have to be much better at that. I think that’s a point that can take us to the next level.”

Doncic also spoke about the “great relationship” he’s forged with Mavs first-year coach Jason Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard whose on-court leadership played a key role in the Mavs’ lone title. He stressed his confidence in Kidd, who had publicly challenged Doncic on a number of occasions this season, for example calling out him for arguing with umpires instead of running back on defense and urging him to get involved in defence .

Doncic won his third straight first-team All-NBA selection despite having to play his way into form. He reported to training camp in excess of 260 pounds for the second season in a row and didn’t perform like an MVP candidate until December, when he took three weeks off to recover from recurring ankle sprains and his condition to work.

Kidd didn’t specifically mention Doncic when he broke the news to the Mavs in the dressing room after the game, but it seemed destined for the superstar, who will spend much of the offseason playing for the Slovenia national team.

“Now the question is, what’s our appetite coming up next season?” Kidd said. “Are we going to tiptoe into the season or are we going to be hungry? Will we then train this summer to understand what it means to play until May and June? Because it’s a long season.”

Doncic has made steady improvements since his Rookie of the Year campaign, such as: B. Adding a Dirk Nowitzki-esque one-legged fadeaway and polishing his floater. Mavs management believe Doncic will return to Dallas with more.

“That’s what the big guys do,” Mavs Gov. Mark Cuban said. “He’s a top three, top one, top two player in this league and he’s going to keep improving. Some guys, who they are, are who they are. That’s not Luke. Luka will continue to get better. “