Luka Doncic reacts to $4,296,682 Mavericks guard outshining James Harden and Norman Powell after 4th Q blitz
Luka Doncic reacted to his teammate Quentin Grimes' outstanding performance during the Dallas Mavericks' 113-97 victory over the LA Clippers at the American Airlines Center on Saturday. Although Doncic missed his second consecutive game due to a left heel contusion, he was actively cheering for his team from the sidelines.
In Doncic's absence, head coach Jason Kidd relied on his role players to step up and Grimes delivered in a big way off the bench.
Currently in the fourth year of his rookie deal with a salary of $4,296,682, Grimes erupted for 20 points, shooting an impressive 7 of 8 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. He also added seven rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes.
Doncic was clearly impressed by the former New York Knicks guard’s stellar shooting display. The Slovenian superstar shared Grimes' standout stat line on his Instagram story, accompanied by a "bullseye" emoji to emphasize his teammate's precision and impact.
Grimes was especially impressive in the fourth quarter, where he outperformed the Clippers' James Harden and Norman Powell. The Mavericks guard erupted for 14 points in the final period, shooting a flawless 4 of 4 from the field, including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.
In contrast, Harden and Powell combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter, with Harden contributing just one point and Powell adding 13.
Jason Kidd lauds Quentin Grimes
After the game, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised Quentin Grimes for his exceptional performance, which played a key role in securing the team’s confidence-boosting victory. Kidd commended Grimes' strong work ethic and emphasized the guard's team-first mindset, highlighting his selfless approach to the game.
"He enjoys the game. He’s a pro. He works extremely hard," Kidd said. "Just understanding if you ask him to start, if you ask him to come off the bench, he’s all about the team. That’s a quality that we’ve learned here quickly.
"It’s something that’s needed in this league when you have a guy that can start or come off the bench and be effective."
Grimes is averaging 9.2 points on 48.8% shooting, including 42.3% from 3-point range this season.