Dallas got too comfortable with a double-digit lead, was sloppy on defense, and the Lakers took advantage. The Mavs couldn’t finish against a veteran team that knows the game isn’t over until the final whistle.
The last time that Luka was in Dallas as a Laker, he scored 45 points. Cooper Flagg is growing into the league at an incredible rate. He’s already eclipsing averages of top-tier veterans around the league with 18.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 4.1 APG. The Mavericks have won four straight, two of those games against the Utah Jazz, who are easily considered one of the worst teams in the league.
Can the Mavericks continue this run at home against the Lakers? The Lakers are hit-and-miss lately, winning two of their last four.
I haven’t watched many Dallas games this year, but I have to say the defensive structure is solid. It’s not one player doing anything extremely phenomenal; it’s the fact that their positioning is outstanding. Thumbs up to Jason Kidd for the setup.
They are currently a top-5 defense in the NBA, and I can see why. The Lakers seem to be using a 2-3 zone, which is a solid idea here in the early game. The Mavericks have one solid 3-point shooter on the floor with Max Christie, and he’s going to have to have a big game for the Mavericks to come out on top. Luka is doing what Luka does, dominating the game with double digits in the first quarter. The Lakers lead 37-28 entering the second quarter. The Mavericks’ defense is falling apart as each minute ticks by.
DeAndre Ayton (photo courtesy of AllBasketball.org)
The Lakers’ defense is playing great, and the fans have to love to see some point production from Rui Hachimura. Watching DeAndre Ayton offensively is like watching someone sinking in quicksand, and you’re telling them to quit moving so they don’t sink, but he keeps flailing his arms. The Mavericks don’t have anyone who can out-rebound him, so I’m sure this mess is going to continue.
The Lakers aren’t sweating, though. The team as a whole is shooting over 50% in the first half. Max Christie is the star for the Mavericks so far in the first half, but Brandon Williams and Najii Marshall are helping out. Luka’s 9-10 from the free throw line in the first half, and finishes the 2nd with 17 for the game. He also has six rebounds and seven assists. DeAndre Ayton has nine rebounds in the first half, including a possession where I honestly lost count of how many times he missed and got his own rebound. Jake Laravia and Hachimura finish the first half with 10 points respectively, shooting well. Lebron is 2-5 with four points, four rebounds, and three assists heading into halftime.
The score at the half is 65-52, Lakers in front.
The 3rd quarter has been all Mavericks midway through, thanks to Ayton and some sloppy passing by Los Angeles. Ayton was taken out after just 4 minutes in the quarter for the Lakers to try to hold onto their lead, and the Mavs came out swinging, going on a nice run. Cooper Flagg is finally finding some rhythm, and everyone on the floor for the Mavericks is scoring pretty evenly. The Mavericks have gone up 72-71 with 5:11 remaining in the 3rd quarter, and the defense is playing fantastically. The solid positioning in the first quarter is now back, and the players are coming alive; the Lakers truly look outclassed. Brandon Williams, off the bench for the Mavs, is throwing haymakers at a wobbly Lakers defense. He has 17 for the game and 8 in the 3rd quarter, with the Mavs outscoring the Lakers 35-14 in the 3rd.
Luka on the move (photo courtesy ESPN)
The 4th quarter is starting with the Mavs up 87-79, and there’s no slowing down in sight for the defense. Luka is back in the game, with a new pair of sneakers, after a minute into the quarter, to attempt to save the day for a lifeless Lakers team. The Lakers are battling back with an outstanding 4th quarter performance from Lebron James. We have a 3-point Mavericks lead with 3:17 left in the game, 104-101. Luka has a very comfortable demeanor tonight, even when trailing by 13; he really is such a phenomenal presence. Not many athletes in any sport can change the outcome of a game as he can. Three players come over to cover Luka, and it leaves Hachimura open on back-to-back plays for 3 pointers, and the Lakers are up again. With Luka on the floor, the Mavs’ defense doesn’t look anything like it does without him.
It’s 112-107 Lakers up with 1:30 left in the game. Final: 116-110.
The end of this game has been tough to watch. The Mavs ‘ win streak is over, as it should be.
Luka on the floor had a +18 point differential. When he was on the floor, the Mavs had no answer for him. Lebron’s 4th quarter performance was an intricate part of the turnaround, he made some tough shots, he did his part.
Dallas had this game in hand, 102-87, with 7:30 left to play. They got too comfortable with a double-digit lead, were sloppy on defense, and the Lakers took advantage. They couldn’t finish the race against a veteran Lakers team that knows the game isn’t over until the final whistle.
The Lakers showed a lot of heart to stay in this fight; they should be very happy with getting a win at Dallas tonight.
