Brown showed what he can do for Mavs

HOUSTON – It’s been a busy week for Mavericks power forward Greg Brown III.

Brown started the week scoring five points in nine minutes during Monday’s game in Denver. Then, since Brown is one of the Mavs’ two-way players, he hopped on a plane and flew to Orlando for the Texas Legends, who lost to the Delaware Blue Coats, 133-129, on Wednesday in the NBA G League Winter Showcase.

From there, Brown was back with the Mavs, and scored three points, grabbed five rebounds and distributed two assists in 12 minutes during Friday’s 122-96 loss on the road to the Houston Rockets.

In the game against the Blue Coats, Brown collected 20 points, four boards and five blocked shots in 21 minutes. While he was very appreciative for what he was able to accomplish from an individual standpoint, he was not at all pleased with the overall team’s results.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t pull it out, but we played really good,” the 6-8, 217-pound Brown said. “Our team chemistry and our team morale went up. We learned how to play with each other.”

Brown converted 9-of-17 shots against the Blue Coats, and also recorded a vicious dunk which caught the attention of Mavs coach Jason Kidd.

“I thought Greg, in the short amount of time that I watched, he was great in that game,” Kidd said. “I thought he had a carryover from the Denver game of being able to put it on the floor and get to the rim and get fouled.

“Yes, the highlight was the dunk in that G League game. Again, being able to use his athleticism and block shots. But I thought he had a great carryover. That’s not easy to do — to fly from Denver to Orlando and play. But he’s been aggressive.”

The game against the Blue Coats taught Brown a lot that he can use going forward, especially whenever he gets called up by the Mavs.

“I’d say the positives are really just getting comfortable,” he said. “Getting comfortable with my role, getting comfortable with what I have to do to be in the NBA.

“Run, block shots, defend, knock down corner open shots.”

On what he hopes he accomplished against the Blue Coats can transfer to the NBA, Brown said: “Everything defensively. Defensive energy, defensive presence, guarding the rim, guarding on the ball and just being athletic and running the floor and bringing energy.”

Kidd is certainly hopeful Brown’s G League performance can transfer to the NBA.

“We’ll find out,” he said. “Nothing against the G League, but everyone is pretty much the same size.

“You don’t always have to block it, but if you can change shots, that’s one of the areas we have to be better it. So, if he can help us in that area that will be big for us.”

BRIEFLY: Asked before Friday’s game if point guard Luka Doncic (left quad strain) will be able to play Saturday at home against the San Antonio Spurs, coach Jason Kidd said: “We’ll see. We’re just focused on today, so we’ll see tomorrow.” Asked if there’s a timetable on the other injured Mavs players, Kidd said: “We’ll let you know on the timetables just so you guys don’t have to ask. That’s just one less question that you have to ask.”. . , Guard Dexter Dennis also enjoyed some success in Wednesday’s G League game against the Blue Coats. Dennis finished that game with 14 points and six boards in 29 minutes while making 6-of-10 shots. And on Friday against the Rockets, Dennis poured in 18 points in just 17 minutes and was 8-of-11 from the field. He also picked up five rebounds and four assists in that game.

X: @DwainPrice