Luka Doncic's newfound inspiration will delight Dallas Mavericks fans

The Dallas Mavericks' shellacking of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday was memorable for various reasons. Not only did they find a way to fix a longtime issue to defeat one of the top teams in the Western Conference, but they also matched their longest winning streak in the 2023-24 campaign with four victories.

Furthermore, the much-anticipated debuts of newcomers P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford went better than expected. They provided the Mavs with an additional weapon on offense and defense, and Luka Doncic couldn't be happier to have the big men aboard.

There was another reason the evening was special for Doncic; it marked the first NBA match he had played in front of his daughter.

Luka Doncic's newfound inspiration will delight Dallas Mavericks fans

Last December, the Slovenian superstar excited the sports world thanks to the announcement of the birth of his firstborn, Gabriela. Clearly, fatherhood has done wonders for Doncic, as he seems to be in better disposition than ever and even registered a string of impressive performances after becoming a father.

On Saturday, Luka brought his little bundle of joy to his workplace on a game day for the first time. Even though the infant was understandably asleep, Doncic stated how it felt to have his daughter at American Airlines Center.

The baby could have very well been the Mavs' lucky charm, as the squad had one of its highest-scoring outputs this season against the Thunder. It put up 146 points, with Doncic delivering a game-best 32 points. Several of his teammates stepped up, as six of them, namely Kyrie Irving, Gafford, Washington, Dwight Powell, Jaden Hardy, and Tim Hardaway Jr., also scored in double-digits.

Now that the four-time All-NBA First Team selection has a new priority in life, some might be asking how different his approach has been. He said that Gabriela has actually made it easier to play, which should bode well for the franchise and its fans and serve as a warning to opponents.

It remains to be seen if Doncic and his wife continue bringing their child to home contests. If it causes the team to do better, then there's probably little reason for her not to come along. 

Dallas needs all the help it can get, as it is currently sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference. Still, with an inspired Luka leading the way and possible reinforcements available in the buyout market, it won't be surprising to see the squad make some noise during the rest of the season and in this year's postseason. 

Stay tuned for more updates about Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks with us.