Luka Doncic starred for Dallas Mavericks as they beat Los Angeles Clippers 113-103 on Saturday to go up 1-0 after the first round of the best-of-seven playoff series as the NBA postseason is now in full swing.

Toping the charts with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, talismanic Doncic was leading the attacking line for the fifth-seeded Mavericks as he secured a triple-double, however, guard-forward Tim Hardaway Jr chipped in with 21 points. The Mavs pulled away after trailing by three points with five minutes remaining

ALSO READ | Memphis Grizzlies wins against Warriors, secure NBA playoff spot

Meanwhile, the Clippers put on a valiant show, with forward Kwahi Leonard doing major chuck of the scoring. He had 26 points, 5 assists and game-high 10 rebounds and Paul George added 23 more points. 

After the match, Doncic said, “I hope it’s going to be different this time, I hope it’s not going to be the same story.”

“I forgot how much fun it was to play in the playoffs.”

ALSO READ | NBA allows vaccinated coaches to go without masks ahead of playoffs

Earlier in the day, in an extra-time thriller, Milwaukee Bucks squeezed out an early advantage against Maimi in the playoff series, after Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo sank Heat 109-107 in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference opener.  

In other games Saturday, the Brooklyn Nets face the Boston Celtics, while the Denver Nuggets host the Portland Trail Blazers in the late Western Conference game.