Mavs firing up their fair share of three-pointers

The Dallas Mavericks are third in the NBA in three-point attempts at 40.6 per game, trailing only the Golden State Warriors (43.4) and Boston Celtics (41.4). They also are only allowing 30.5 triples per game.

The 10.1 differential in three-point attempts is just what coach Jason Kidd ordered.

“The way we’re built we have to be able to shoot the three,” said Kidd before Monday’s 121-114 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We have an artist (in point guard Luka Doncic) who can create open threes for us, so we have to be able to knock those down.”

The Mavs have knocked down 35.5 percent of their three-pointers this season, which ranks 16^th in the NBA. That percentage increased a tad on Monday when the Mavs were 22-of-54 from downtown against the Thunder for 40.7 percent.

In addition, the Mavs set a franchise record on Dec. 3 when they hoisted up a mind-boggling 61 three-pointers — and converted 24 of them — during a game against the New York Knicks. That ties for the fourth-most three-point attempts in a game in NBA history.

“They’re a fastball team,” OKC coach Mark Daigneault said. “They throw their fastball. They rear back and throw it, and it’s hard to stop — hard to hit.

“A lot of that’s Doncic, but they’ve got shooting around him and those guys play in very narrow roles (and) play to their strengths. They have excellent role players.”

One of the Mavs’ major weapons from three-point range is Tim Hardaway Jr,, who was 6-of-14 from downtown on Monday while scoring 20 points. Hardaway now has made five or more three-pointers in six of his last right games.

“I mean, I think I’ve always been confident,” Hardaway said. “I probably get a little bit too trigger-happy here and there.

“But, I mean, I’ve had it rolling for the stretch since I’ve been starting. So I’m just trying to keep the confidence, trust my work, and continue to shoot the shots when they’re open, most importantly.”

As far as guarding the three-point line goes, Kidd said: “Defensively, we’re trying to take the three out of the game just because of the way a lot of teams are shooting the three.

“So if we can guard the three and you can get up enough threes, you can believe that you’ll have the most points at the end of the game.”

Daigneault also has been impressed with the Mavs’ three-point defense. That smothering defense limited the Thunder to 10-of-31 shots from downtown on Monday for 32.3 percent.

“Defensively, dating back to last year they’ve been a really, really stingy offense,” he said. “You’ve got to work the ball, work the possessions. They’re a challenge for sure.”

KIDD SENT CONDOLENCES TO PAUL SILAS’ FAMILY: Coach Jason Kidd sent his condolences to Paul Silas’ family. A former NBA player and coach, Silas died Saturday of cardiac arrest at the age of 79.

“It’s sad to hear that news,” Kidd said. “Our prayers and thoughts are with the Silas family.”

Silas and Kidd go way back. After Kidd was traded from the Mavs to Phoenix on Dec. 26, 1996, that’s when his close relationship started to blossom with Silas, who was a Suns’ assistant coach at the time.

“I had the opportunity to play for coach Silas in Phoenix,” said Kidd, who is from Oakland. “We became very close. It was sad to hear his passing.”

“He’s an Oakland native, so he’s a hero to all of us from Oakland. He was an incredible man — a teddy bear, a gentle giant. He’ll be sorely missed.”

Silas’ son, Stephen, is the head coach of the Houston Rockets and was an assistant coach with the Mavs from 2018-20.

BRIEFLY: Forward Davis Bertans sat out Monday’s game with a non-Covid illness. Guard Josh Green also sat out Monday’s game with a sprained right elbow. Coach Jason Kidd said Green – he also didn’t play in Saturday’s game in Chicago — was injured on a fastbreak during Friday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. . .On his team, Kidd said: “We like to have a balance of being able to get to the rim — also to the free throw line.”. .Both Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie came close to registering a triple-double on Monday. Doncic finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Dinwiddie added 20 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. “He’s been great,” Doncic said, referring to Dinwiddie. “This is like the second game in three or four games he’s been so close (to nabbing a triple-double). He’s been great through the whole season helping us out. Whether it is assisting, scoring, rebounding assisting, he’s been great in every spot. He should give me assists and I should give him my rebounds.”. .On getting his sixth technical foul of the season, Doncic said: “I’ll get that one back for sure. (The referee) said I looked at him. But I didn’t look at him. We will send about seven angels to the NBA office so they can see that I was yelling to teammates.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice