Luka Doncic and Devin Booker have had a contentious rivalry ever since the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns met in the playoffs last season. On Sunday night, things came to a head as the two stars exchanged words in the final seconds of the Suns’ 130-126 victory over the Mavericks.
Doncic, who fouled Kevin Durant after missing a potential game-tying floater in the final seconds, said Booker was the one who started the conversation. Booker, however, denies this and claims he was only talking to the referee.
Doncic had a message for Booker after the game. “It’s a competitive game. It’s all good,” Doncic said. “Next time, don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk.”
Doncic and Booker have a history of intense competition on the court, with the Mavericks upsetting the top-seeded Suns in the conference semifinals last season. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant now in the picture, it’s likely these two teams will continue to face off in the playoffs.
The heated exchange between Doncic and Booker serves as a reminder of the competitiveness between these two teams and how intense the rivalry is between them. It’s likely that both players will use this as motivation for the next time they meet, and hopefully the competition between them can be even more exciting.
