Luka excited for Gobert matchup: 'I like to get a center on me'

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic wants to re-ignite his rivalry with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.

"Since I came into the league, I like to play pick-and-roll," Doncic said Thursday, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I like to get a center on me."

Gobert's four Defensive Player of the Year nods don't bother Doncic, who is averaging 30.9 points per game through 50 playoff contests - second only to Michael Jordan.

"I like big games," Doncic admitted. "Playoffs is a fun time. Everybody plays 100%. It's just fun to be out there."

Doncic got the better of Gobert in last season's Western Conference finals, when the Slovenian was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 32.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 47.3% from the field and 43.4% from three. Doncic mercilessly hunted Gobert throughout the entire series, and the Frenchman only managed 26 minutes in the closeout contest and was a minus-23.

"He thinks that there's not a person in the world that can guard him," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "So I think he takes that seriously, that matchup in particular."

The Lakers and T-Wolves tied their season series with two wins apiece. L.A. won the lone contest in which Doncic was available.

Los Angeles will have home-court advantage after going 50-32 in the regular season, one win better than Minnesota's record of 49-33.

Game 1 will take place Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.