Luka Doncic notes Phoenix Suns looking at Dallas Mavericks bench late in Game 5 loss

DALLAS – Luka Doncic didn’t shy away from saying “everybody acts tough when they up” when leaving the court following Tuesday’s Game 5 road loss to the Phoenix Suns.

“When you're up, everybody is trying to talk,” said Doncic, after the Mavericks’ morning walkthrough heading into Thursday's Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at American Airlines Center.

Doncic was captured on video by KNXV-TV ABC-15 in Phoenix while heading to the visiting locker room with his teammates at Footprint Center.

“A lot of guys who played there the last time, the last couple of minutes, after every shot, they looked at our bench,” Doncic continued. “It was funny.”

The top-seeded Suns are up 3-2 in this best-of-7 series. If fourth-seeded Dallas wins Thursday, there will be a decisive Game 7 Sunday in Phoenix.

"We're going to be ready (for Game 6)," said Suns wing Mikal Bridges when asked after Wednesday's practice about Doncic's comments. "I just know we are."

Doncic was also asked about what he thought of Suns All-Star Devin Booker saying “the Luka special” after laying on the court for several seconds following a body bump from Dorian Finney-Smith in transition that knocked him down.

Smiling while laying down, Booker said "the Luka special" while being helped up to his feet by his teammates.

“I don’t really care,” said a smiling Doncic. Finney-Smith’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant one penalty.

Suns vs. Mavericks: What you need to know about Game 6

Doncic finished fifth in the NBA MVP voting behind Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who won the award for a second straight year, 76ers center Joel Embiid, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Booker.

The NBA announced the award winner and voting results Wednesday.

“I want to win a championship,” said the Mavs All-Star point guard when asked his reaction to finishing fifth.

Doncic has had several interactions with Booker and Suns All-Star point guard Chris Paul during what has become an increasingly heated playoff series.

All three are known for their trash talking.

“Playoffs, it’s always going to be like that,” Doncic said. “It’s nothing new to me.”

Game 5 ended with Mavs backup Marquese Chriss and Suns backup big Bismack Biyombo exchanging words that led to both being ejected with 2.3 seconds left in Game 5.

Chriss later went through the Suns' tunnel to get at Biyombo, but security stopped a physical confrontation between the two.

“That's over with,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said after Thursday’s morning walkthrough. “There's nothing to talk about. We're focused on Game 6."

.Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Luka Doncic notes Suns chatter, looking at Mavs bench late in Game 5 loss