What the Mavericks are doing in the turnover department is borderline historic.
Holding onto the basketball has been a strength of the franchise over the last decade or so, but they are taking it to another level these days with some numbers that rare and might be unprecedented by season’s end if they can keep it up.
In the last 10 games before Saturday’s match with Oklahoma City, the Mavericks averaged 9.7 turnovers per game.
That pace would blow away the NBA record for fewest turnovers in a season (11.1 per game by Portland in the 2020-21 season).
As it stands, the Mavericks are averaging 11.5 turnovers per game through 18 games. That ties with the 2016-17 Charlotte Hornets for fifth-lowest turnover average in league history, or at least since 1972-73 when tracking turnovers began.
And it really seems unlikely, given that coach Jason Kidd and his staff have emphasized a faster tempo that produces more possessions and a more aggressive attack offensively.
In theory, playing faster should be a recipe for more turnovers.
Not for the Mavericks, however.
Kidd pointed to the two players who are most responsible for the Mavericks ball protection – Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić.
“Look at Luka and Kai, your two quarterbacks that have the ball,” Kidd said. “Playing with pace, when you can keep it under 10, that’s pretty good. That actually gives you the ability to have a couple more possessions.”
And that’s part of the reason why the Mavericks rank eighth in offensive rating and pace and sixth in scoring at better than 118 points per game.
And the Mavericks typically have been better late in games when crunch time hits, which has contributed to their sparkling 8-1 record in clutch games (defined as games that are within five points in the final five minutes.
“Right now, it seems like the first half is when we have the turnovers,” Kidd said. “Then, (we’re) understanding how important it is in the second half to get shots. But when you talk about the two guys running it, Luka and Kai, it definitely helps with those two keeping control and also trusting their teammates when they do throw it ahead.”
Injury update: While the turnovers are remaining low, the Mavericks injury situation is mounting considerably faster.
They were without five players Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, starting with Kyrie Irving, who was out with right foot soreness.
This is concerning because Irving has missed time on a couple other occasions with similar foot discomfort.
They also were without Josh Green, who was dealing with a right elbow sprain suffered during Friday’s loss to Memphis at American Airlines Center.
This also is an injury that has bothered Green in the past. He missed extended time last season with elbow problems.
“At some point in the game, he hurt his elbow,” Kidd said. “I think it could ribe similar to that injury. He’s had it on both elbows. So, yeah, it could be.”
In addition, Tim Hardaway Jr. (back spasms), Dante Exum (personal) and Maxi Kleber (toe) all were out against the Thunder.
Briefly: The Mavericks’ three-game home stand turned into four games with the addition of the Utah game on Wednesday one of the bonus games that was added when the Mavericks did not make the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament. They also will take a one-game trip to Portland on Friday . . . Richaun Holmes did not play in eight of the first nine games this season. But he’s been in the rotation recently and has responded well. In the past five games before Saturday, the big man has averaged 5.4 rebounds in 18 minutes per game and has added an element of toughness in the paint.
X: @ESefko
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