The Mavericks let the Timberwolves steal a game on the road in the Western Conference Finals and extend their season another two days, but there was no stopping Luka Doncic in Thursday night's Game 5.
Doncic came out firing, drilling shot after shot and burying Minnesota's hopes far earlier than anyone expected. He finished with 36 points, shooting 64 percent from the field and matching Kyrie Irving's point total.
History shows home-court advantage is helpful in the playoffs, but Doncic played like someone who feeds off of the energy of a hostile crowd. With the Mavericks up by 36 points, Doncic directed some choice words toward the crowd and evidently caught the attention of rapper Snoop Dogg.
Here's what you need to know about Doncic's taunt and whether it was directed at Snoop Dogg.
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What did Luka Doncic say to Snoop Dogg?
Doncic has ongoing rivalries with a few fan bases of teams he's dispatched in the playoffs over the years, but it doesn't appear he has a rivalry with one of rap's most iconic artists just yet.
Doncic was taunting a fan, not Snoop Dogg, when he yelled, "Who's crying now, motherf—er?"
A Timberwolves fan in close proximity to the court reportedly mocked Doncic for complaining to officials early in the game, and Doncic got the last laugh and then some by dismantling Minnesota with a brilliant performance to close out the series.
Also in close proximity to the court was Snoop Dogg, who was pretty stunned by the interaction even if he wasn't involved.
Snoop Dogg is in disbelief pic.twitter.com/U4LhxZgeRy
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 31, 2024
TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller initially believed Doncic was going after Snoop Dogg, which would have made for an even better storyline out of Game 5.
"Here's the move by Luka, the contact, the and one and the words between Luka and one of the greatest rappers to ever get it done, Snoop Dogg."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 31, 2024
Reggie Miller with a call we doubt he thought he'd have to make today. pic.twitter.com/pPGlA6QXeN
It's no surprise Miller's first instinct was to believe Doncic was trash-talking a celebrity fan. Miller, of course, engaged in a long war of words with film director and Knicks super-fan Spike during the 1990s.
If you ask Miller, however, Lee started the beef. Snoop Dogg is a known Lakers fan, so it's unlikely he would be spending his Thursday night talking trash toward Doncic at a game between the Mavericks and Timberwolves.
Then again, Snoop Dogg certainly didn't look like he expected to hear Doncic taunting a fan during the biggest win of the Mavericks star's career. Knowing the Celtics have had no shortage of famous fans show up to games in the playoffs, perhaps Doncic could spark a celebrity rivalry with a championship on the line.
