Luka Doncic takes the blame for the Mavericks' loss to the Rockets

Through three quarters of Thursday night's loss to the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic had just 14 points on 6/17 shooting, a trend of slow starts that followed him earlier this season. He was rousing in the fourth quarter, with 15 points on 6/8 shooting in the final frame, but that wasn't enough to overcome the big hole the Mavs found themselves in as they fell behind 108-102.

After the loss, Doncic took the blame for the loss and said he needed to do better in the future.

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“It’s on me,” Doncic said in his postgame press conference. “I started pretty badly so I take the blame because I have to do better.” I know I can do it. I just have to concentrate and play my game.”

He wasn't the only reason the Mavericks lost to Houston at American Airlines Center, but he was the catalyst. His disappointment over fouls or missed layups spread to the rest of the team, and he was visibly upset when they failed to close the possession on defense with a rebound.

The Rockets won in large part due to their effort on the offensive glass, capturing 18 offensive boards, which led to 20 second-chance points. They were also the beneficiaries of some annoying fouls from the Mavs.

Slow starts doomed the Mavericks early, but they still have a 3-2 record through their first five games. If their offense gets off to a better start, they can beat almost anyone, but their shooting percentage in the first quarters so far this season is under 40%.

Doncic entered the season as the favorite to win MVP, especially given the momentum he and the team carried over from last year's trip to the NBA Finals, but Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has Doncic a week into the season Season on FanDuel now overtaken. Doncic still has plenty of time to correct himself and get back on the path to MVP, but his start to the season has largely been worrisome, aside from his performance in Phoenix.

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