Inconsistency, irregularity and ups and downs continue to be the tonic in his era Dallas Mavericks. A team scored about 50% wins unless there is some movement and where only his genius Luka Doncic cover their major shortcomings. Texans are capable of the best and the worst. That is, when they connect the outside shots give the feeling that you can compete with anyone and, instead, be a future lottery team.
However, there is another category within the Mavs’ campaign, one in which neither is clearly happening and what is happening is a tough, hard-to-watch, close game.
This was the same thing that happened in the “return” of the match against Minnesota Timberwolves, in which the Texans prevailed 104 to 99 after they added 33.3% in triples and allowed Rudy Gobert scored 19 points with almost 82% accuracy. Once again, it was Doncic’s brilliant coaching that prevented Dallas from losing at home. The Slovenian was the beacon that led his team in a duel where it went from less to more, managing to stop Wolves in defense in the final two minutes.
Doncic was the statistical leader in almost every area, ending with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists and 50% field goal accuracy. A version much closer to his usual self after being ejected for a double-technique in the previous game against Minnesota. The Slovenian did his job in the last two minutes, without missing a single foul clutch and sealing the victory.
These were his best moments:
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Along with former Real Madrid player, an unpredictable Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 21 goals on a streak of 6 of 13 shooting from the field and was notable in the final quarter with two triples in a row and an assist that turned the tide in Dallas’ favor.
Despite everything and the low score, defensively the Mavs were not particularly brilliant. They gave up 52 points in the paint to Minnesota on 28 of them and let it go Austin Rivers scored 21 points on 61.5% shooting.
Jason Kidd’s will now return to Texas, although they will have to travel houston to face the Rockets on Dec. 23.
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