DALLAS, TX — The first half saw quite the difference, with the Mavericks turning up the heat in their second-quarter performance, a momentum that carried through the rest of the game. Dallas took down the Atlanta Hawks with a nine-point advantage.
Tonight’s leading scorers were Kyrie Irving leading the Mavericks with 26 points and five assists, followed by Luka Dončić who added 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Mavericks had a shaky start to tonight’s matchup, struggling to convert their shots, making only three of eleven attempts from the field early on. The Hawks maintained the lead for the majority of the first quarter, but fortunately for the Mavericks, PJ Washington proved to be a great addition to Dallas.
PJ Washington, alongside Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, led the scoring in the first half. Dončić and Irving each contributed 16 points, while Washington added 13. Together, they made a comeback from a 25-31 deficit in the second quarter.
Head coach Jason Kidd said that PJ Washington is a reliable player, and although is effective on both ends, they especially like what he can do for them on the defensive end.
“When we talk about P.J. being here, we have always trusted him, you can see that on both ends, offensively and defensively,” said Kidd. “But we have always recognized on the defensive end. He understands he is going to get looks, he can put the ball on the floor and his midrange game is as good as anyone’s.”
Luka opened the quarter with a three-pointer, putting Dallas up 31-35. His momentum continued as he assisted Tim Hardaway Jr. for a three-pointer, giving Dallas their first lead of the night with 4:47 remaining in the half, 48-47.
The team extended their lead with Hardaway’s contributions. With two consecutive plays, he scored six points with a jumper and a layup, making it 55-52. Irving displayed resilience despite being challenged by Murray’s defense down low, managing to escape and score two consecutive jumpers. Dončić and Washington sealed the first half with two crucial three-pointers, sending Dallas into halftime with a 65-57 lead.
Dallas opened up the second half with a 16-0 run before Bogdan Bogdanovic disrupted the momentum by hitting a three-pointer for Atlanta, making the score 68-81. Dallas maintained a 93-81 advantage heading into the final quarter. When the Hawks attempted to make a comeback, Irving ensured it remained a 10-point game by sinking a three-pointer, bringing the score to 96-86 with 10:36 left in the game. From there, it was all Dallas, with Jaden Hardy sealing the victory with a jumper in the final 28.1 seconds, 109-95.
Up next Dallas will have a quick turnaround to face the Golden State Warriors here in American Airlines Center tomorrow, Friday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
