DALLAS, TEXAS — After splitting their last two games on the road, the Mavericks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 113-109 to win their second game consecutively.
Entering the night, the Mavericks had 7 games remaining on their schedule and 6 of the games remaining were against teams whose playoff hopes are in limbo which should translate into easy wins, but Dallas has struggled against teams with less talent all season long. The final games are must win because of how close the playoff race is between them, the Lakers, and the Trailblazers. The Mavericks have their feet settled on shaky ground and their game tonight served as a true litmus test as to what this team will look like in the NBA postseason.
The Mavericks energy on defense continued to shine in the first quarter against the Nets. Dallas had 1 blocked shot and 2 steals within the first two minutes of the game and developed some cushion in the opening minutes. The Mavericks offense hit the switch as well with all 5 players in their starting scoring points in the first quarter. Tim Hardaway Jr has been the secondary scorer they’ve needed lately and he continued his dominance scoring 10 first quarter points leading the Mavericks. Josh Richardson had a nice first quarter performance accounting for 7 points on 60% shooting and Luka Doncic did work in the first quarter as well scoring 8 points and got hot from three connecting on 2 three pointers.
Collectively the Mavericks connected on 54% of their shots and made 5 shots from beyond the arc to help them secure a 37-32 lead at the end of the quarter.
Dallas had an up and down performance to begin the second quarter. They began the quarter missing their first 4 shot attempts and ending the quarter scoring 5 straight points to go into halftime leading 63-62. Dallas’s ability to flip a switch and not lose control of the game was impressive especially against a team like the Nets. Also, the Mavericks continued to find ways to score even when they were facing a deficit which is a good sign.
Luka Doncic caught fire from three and hit 3 out of 5 of his shots from perimeter and finished the first half with 19 points and Tim Hardaway Jr finished the second quarter scoring 15 points. Dallas also got some solid production off the bench from Jalen Brunson and Dwight Powell with the duo accounting for 10 points combined.
The third quarter was like a 90s heavyweight fight in boxing. When one team scored a punch the other would counter and eventually both fighters would grow tired and their performance would go flat. There were 5 lead changes and 2 ties in the third quarter alone and both teams struggled from the field.
Surprisingly Luka Doncic didn’t score his first points of the game until there was less than two minutes in the quarter and Doncic was in a funk from the free throw line as well. What continued to be impressive throughout the game was how well the supporting cast played and how vital they were to their chances of winning this game. The remainder of the team converted on 40% of their shots in the quarter and connected on 3 three pointers. The Nets finished the third quarter with a 83-82 lead but the Mavericks collective efforts on both ends of the court kept the Nets from developing a big lead.
After the Nets started the fourth quarter on a run to take their largest lead of the night leading the Mavericks by 4 points, Dallas continued to highlight how productive they can be even when Luka Doncic is struggling. Dorian Finney-Smith was a huge part of the Mavericks production in the fourth quarter and scored 8 fourth quarter points and hit a big time three pointer to give the Mavericks a 7 point cushion. Jalen Brunson and Dwight Powell continued their productive nights off the bench scoring 12 points combined.
The Mavericks converted on 60% of their shots and bested the Nets in shooting for three straight quarters to help them grab another win. 5 players finished in double digits for the Mavericks tonight with Luka leading the way with 24 points and Tim Hardaway Jr finished with 23 points.
The Mavericks did their job tonight and put more space between them, the Lakers, and the Blazers, but Dallas still has more work to do. The Mavericks will play their next two games at home against the Cavaliers who have been disqualified from postseason contention. Dallas has a strong history this season of playing down to their competition, but after their last two wins there should be some hope they have ridded themselves of that truly bad habit.
