Mavs Blow Pels Away in Weird But Entertaining Game
This game was full of the unexpected, but the Mavericks eventually cruised to victory.
Game Story
Zion was still recovering from his knee injury, and has yet to make his debut. It would have been fun to see him, but we'll get our chance. The Mavs were at full strength.
The Mavs got off to an absolutely hideous start. At the 6:18 mark, Dallas had registered five missed threes, one missed midrange shot, five turnovers, and two made shots. Luckily, the Pelicans were almost as putrid, and Dallas was lucky to be down only seven. For the quarter as a whole, Mavs not named Luka went 3-17 from the field, including 1-10 3PTAs. A 9-2 advantage in made free throws kept them in the game, and the period ended with the teams knotted at 24-all.
The second quarter started just as skunk-like. Curry scored the Mavs' first points in the period at 8:47, and the Pels reached an 11-point lead at 8:33. What is Carlisle's answer to a flatlined offense? A Barea intervention! Jose Juan took over, and had 8 points and 3 assists in the next 6 possessions, resulting in the Mavs tying the game at 5:06. The blue-and-silver closed the half with an 18-12 run, and led 59-53 heading into the locker room. At the halftime interview, Gentry ventured that his team was giving up too many easy baskets, and had to stop going under the screen with all the Mavs' good shooters.
Luka took over in the third, playing all 12 minutes and recording 15 points and 10 boards in that period alone. By the end of the frame, the Mavs had extended their lead to 84-75. After the quarter, Coach Gentry allowed that the Pels had done a good defensive job on everyone but Luka. Pretty significant exception, Alvin.
The bench ran the Pelicans out of the gym in the fourth quarter, winning the period 34-22 and hitting 8 of 12 3PTAs WITHOUT LUKA, KP, OR THJ ON THE COURT!! I was so proud I was busting my buttons! Luka was caught celebrating his teammates with a snazzy dance on the sideline. Final score -- 118-97.
Analytics
The Mavs shot 42% from deep, while New Orleans was only able to manage 27%. Luka and Seth each had five of those 19 triples. Dallas had a 27-15 advantage in free throw attempts, and hit on 23 of those, compared to the Pels' 67%. Luka had 13 of those attempts, completing 10. Our boys also boasted a 23-8 edge in second-chance points and an 18-10 margin in points off turnovers.
Players
Luka had 33 points, including five threes and 10 free throws. Any time your point guard grabs 18 rebounds, you know something is going right, and that was an NBA career-high for the young phenom. Rick discussed with Luka before the game that he was going to try to take him out a little early in the first and third periods, considering that it was the first night of a B2B. Accordingly, he came out at 1:37 of the first, and didn't return until 6:12 in the second.
Luka put the team on his back with a transcendent performance in the third quarter, and got a deserved rest for the entire fourth. His 33-8 was earned in only 28 minutes of action! In the postgame interview, he was asked how he got so many boards, and he said he just stood under the basket and the ball kept coming his way. A very Luka-like response, lol.
Seth was second on the team in points (19) and third in minutes (27), and this may have been the best performance I have seen from him. They were running him around screens in the second half, and he rewarded the effort with 12 points and 4 of 5 three-point attempts. A great Steph impression! Seth has been struggling lately, and it was good to see the guard looking like himself again.
Porzingis had an unusual night. He was very good defensively, altering shots, protecting the rim, and recording five blocks (four in the first quarter). However, he was 2-11 from the field, and played only 18 minutes. Rick took him out at 5:03 in the first quarter -- not sure why. He started the second quarter, but had two quick personal fouls, and had to exit at 9:47. He came back to begin the third, and was called for his fourth foul at 9:01. Coach left him in with 4 fouls, and he went out of the game at 3:36, having successfully avoided a fifth foul. Fortunately, he wasn't needed in the fourth period. KP also was T'd up early in the second quarter, being angry at a no-call.
During the third quarter, the team kept forcing the ball into KP in the post. I don't know if they were trying to get him going, or reward him for defending, or what, but it wasn't working and probably only served to embarrass him. It was a relief when the experiment mercifully came to an end.
Kristaps doesn't usually play both nights of back-to-backs, but considering that he played only 18 minutes in this game, perhaps we'll see him for the Minnesota match.
Barea was amazing, calming the squad down in the second quarter, and making a second appearance in the last few minutes of the game. He had 8 points, including back-to-back threes, and 6 assists in 11 minutes. What an efficient little engine that could! I love it when Rick breaks the only remaining champ out!
Bench. The bench deserves huge credit in this contest, scoring 53 of the team's 118 points, and defeating the Pelican bench 53-28. Seth and Barea were outstanding, and they had excellent support from Wright, Maxi, and Jackson. Kudos to these players for looking like a well-oiled machine out there!
Remarks
For a while, I thought this might be a post-big-game letdown after the impressive win over the Lakers on Sunday. It was great to see the young team figure things out (with the help of veteran JJB), and get back on track. I was impressed with Luka's calmness under pressure, and the way he continued to manage the game without looking rattled when the Mavs looked like they might be in trouble. I also continue to be encouraged at how the squad's chemistry seems to be coming together before our eyes. New Orleans is a team the Mavs "should" beat, and they are to be commended for taking care of business on the road. Fourteen and six, baby!
Next
Dallas faces the Timberwolves within 24 hours. The Wolves are pretty good this year, so the Mavs will need to be on their toes. Should be a good one!
This game was full of the unexpected, but the Mavericks eventually cruised to victory.
Game Story
Zion was still recovering from his knee injury, and has yet to make his debut. It would have been fun to see him, but we'll get our chance. The Mavs were at full strength.
The Mavs got off to an absolutely hideous start. At the 6:18 mark, Dallas had registered five missed threes, one missed midrange shot, five turnovers, and two made shots. Luckily, the Pelicans were almost as putrid, and Dallas was lucky to be down only seven. For the quarter as a whole, Mavs not named Luka went 3-17 from the field, including 1-10 3PTAs. A 9-2 advantage in made free throws kept them in the game, and the period ended with the teams knotted at 24-all.
The second quarter started just as skunk-like. Curry scored the Mavs' first points in the period at 8:47, and the Pels reached an 11-point lead at 8:33. What is Carlisle's answer to a flatlined offense? A Barea intervention! Jose Juan took over, and had 8 points and 3 assists in the next 6 possessions, resulting in the Mavs tying the game at 5:06. The blue-and-silver closed the half with an 18-12 run, and led 59-53 heading into the locker room. At the halftime interview, Gentry ventured that his team was giving up too many easy baskets, and had to stop going under the screen with all the Mavs' good shooters.
Luka took over in the third, playing all 12 minutes and recording 15 points and 10 boards in that period alone. By the end of the frame, the Mavs had extended their lead to 84-75. After the quarter, Coach Gentry allowed that the Pels had done a good defensive job on everyone but Luka. Pretty significant exception, Alvin.
The bench ran the Pelicans out of the gym in the fourth quarter, winning the period 34-22 and hitting 8 of 12 3PTAs WITHOUT LUKA, KP, OR THJ ON THE COURT!! I was so proud I was busting my buttons! Luka was caught celebrating his teammates with a snazzy dance on the sideline. Final score -- 118-97.
Analytics
The Mavs shot 42% from deep, while New Orleans was only able to manage 27%. Luka and Seth each had five of those 19 triples. Dallas had a 27-15 advantage in free throw attempts, and hit on 23 of those, compared to the Pels' 67%. Luka had 13 of those attempts, completing 10. Our boys also boasted a 23-8 edge in second-chance points and an 18-10 margin in points off turnovers.
Players
Luka had 33 points, including five threes and 10 free throws. Any time your point guard grabs 18 rebounds, you know something is going right, and that was an NBA career-high for the young phenom. Rick discussed with Luka before the game that he was going to try to take him out a little early in the first and third periods, considering that it was the first night of a B2B. Accordingly, he came out at 1:37 of the first, and didn't return until 6:12 in the second.
Luka put the team on his back with a transcendent performance in the third quarter, and got a deserved rest for the entire fourth. His 33-8 was earned in only 28 minutes of action! In the postgame interview, he was asked how he got so many boards, and he said he just stood under the basket and the ball kept coming his way. A very Luka-like response, lol.
Seth was second on the team in points (19) and third in minutes (27), and this may have been the best performance I have seen from him. They were running him around screens in the second half, and he rewarded the effort with 12 points and 4 of 5 three-point attempts. A great Steph impression! Seth has been struggling lately, and it was good to see the guard looking like himself again.
Porzingis had an unusual night. He was very good defensively, altering shots, protecting the rim, and recording five blocks (four in the first quarter). However, he was 2-11 from the field, and played only 18 minutes. Rick took him out at 5:03 in the first quarter -- not sure why. He started the second quarter, but had two quick personal fouls, and had to exit at 9:47. He came back to begin the third, and was called for his fourth foul at 9:01. Coach left him in with 4 fouls, and he went out of the game at 3:36, having successfully avoided a fifth foul. Fortunately, he wasn't needed in the fourth period. KP also was T'd up early in the second quarter, being angry at a no-call.
During the third quarter, the team kept forcing the ball into KP in the post. I don't know if they were trying to get him going, or reward him for defending, or what, but it wasn't working and probably only served to embarrass him. It was a relief when the experiment mercifully came to an end.
Kristaps doesn't usually play both nights of back-to-backs, but considering that he played only 18 minutes in this game, perhaps we'll see him for the Minnesota match.
Barea was amazing, calming the squad down in the second quarter, and making a second appearance in the last few minutes of the game. He had 8 points, including back-to-back threes, and 6 assists in 11 minutes. What an efficient little engine that could! I love it when Rick breaks the only remaining champ out!
Bench. The bench deserves huge credit in this contest, scoring 53 of the team's 118 points, and defeating the Pelican bench 53-28. Seth and Barea were outstanding, and they had excellent support from Wright, Maxi, and Jackson. Kudos to these players for looking like a well-oiled machine out there!
Remarks
For a while, I thought this might be a post-big-game letdown after the impressive win over the Lakers on Sunday. It was great to see the young team figure things out (with the help of veteran JJB), and get back on track. I was impressed with Luka's calmness under pressure, and the way he continued to manage the game without looking rattled when the Mavs looked like they might be in trouble. I also continue to be encouraged at how the squad's chemistry seems to be coming together before our eyes. New Orleans is a team the Mavs "should" beat, and they are to be commended for taking care of business on the road. Fourteen and six, baby!
Next
Dallas faces the Timberwolves within 24 hours. The Wolves are pretty good this year, so the Mavs will need to be on their toes. Should be a good one!