Luka Doncic knew TD Garden wouldn’t be kind to him. It never is. Every time he steps onto that court, there’s a weight to it—a lingering memory of heartbreak, of frustration, of what could have been. Whether it was last year’s NBA Finals gut punch or this latest showdown against the Celtics, Boston always finds a way to test him. The physicality, the relentless pressure, the deafening crowd—it all felt way too familiar.

And Doncic? Yeah, he felt it too.

After the game, when asked if the Finals were on his mind, he didn’t even try to deny it. “Yeah, obviously it comes to mind,” he admitted. “You don’t want to lose it. That’s what happens, so obviously it comes to mind sometimes.”

That wasn’t just some throwaway quote. That was a guy reliving it all in real time. Because everything about this game—the intensity, the defensive schemes, even the way the crowd fed off his struggles—was like a flashback to June 2024.

Boston’s defense didn’t just show up. It came at him with a vengeance. Jaylen Brown was glued to him, Al Horford made every drive feel like a war, and the Celtics fans? They made sure Doncic felt every single mistake.

Game 1 of the Finals had the same energy. Boston blitzed Dallas early, punched them in the mouth, and never let them recover. Kristaps Porzingis made his return, dominated, and Doncic’s 30-point effort wasn’t nearly enough. The Mavericks had hoped for a strong start. Instead, they got smacked.

Game 2? Different night, same story. Doncic went off—32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists—but every time he tried to take control, Boston had an answer. Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, the whole squad—they hounded him. He played like a superstar, but it still wasn’t enough.

Then came Game 3. The game that hurt the most. Dallas clawed back from a 21-point hole, had a real shot to turn the series around… and then Doncic fouled out at 27 points. With 4:12 left, he was forced to sit and watch as Boston closed it out. Helpless. Frustrated.

And by Game 5? It was over. Doncic put up 28 points, 12 boards, 5 assists, but it was never in his hands. The Celtics’ depth, their execution, their killer instinct—it was just too much. Banner 18 went up, and Doncic could only watch.

So yeah, stepping into TD Garden again, those ghosts weren’t just in his head. They were alive in the game itself.

Boston wasn’t about to make it easy for him this time either. Jaylen Brown was relentless. The defense? Brutal. At one point, Brown straight-up ripped the ball from Doncic—just like he had done in the Finals. It was deja vu in the worst way possible.

JJ Redick’s Honest Verdict on Luka Doncic’s Struggles

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was right there, seeing it all unfold. And he didn’t sugarcoat a thing.

“I thought as the game went on, he handled the pressure better,” Redick said. “We made one adjustment, and that was just setting those ball screens up higher so he could attack more in space.”

That tweak helped. It gave Doncic more room to work with, let him find some rhythm. But still—Boston’s physicality had already left its mark.

And Redick? He knew exactly how brutal this Celtics team could be. Last year, he was calling their Finals games as an ESPN analyst. Now, he was on the other side, watching his own guy battle the same demons.

Boston’s plan didn’t change. Crowd Doncic, force tough shots, take away his flow. Even though he still put up 34 points and 8 rebounds, nothing came easy. Not even physically. Midway through the third, Al Horford accidentally kneed him in the head. Just another reminder that nothing in TD Garden comes without a price.

But here’s the thing about Luka Doncic—he doesn’t just roll over. Even when the game is against him, he keeps pushing. Keeps finding ways.

And yeah, the Lakers ended up falling short. Jayson Tatum’s 40-piece, Jaylen Brown’s 31—it was too much to overcome. Boston came out swinging, built a 22-point lead, and even though the Lakers fought back in the fourth, the Celtics never let them all the way back in. Final score: 111-101.

For Doncic, this loss wasn’t just another game. It was a reminder. A harsh, stinging one.

But if history tells us anything, it’s this—he won’t let it break him. He’ll let it fuel him. And after back-to-back battles with the Celtics, you better believe he’s already thinking about the next time.