The Oklahoma City Thunder are a lot like the Mavericks. Take away their MVP candidate and they’re still capable of winning any game.
But like the Mavericks without Luka Dončić, the Thunder without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aren’t the same beast.
In a way, the Mavericks’ 106-98 victory on Friday night at American Airlines Center was poetic in that it was a win that they could not have penciled in a few hours before tipoff. Then, SGA was ruled out and things changed. This victory didn’t necessarily make up for the controversial loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, but it helped.
It ended the Mavericks’ three-game losing streak and puts them in a better mood going forward.
And the numbers showed that, just like Luka’s importance to the Mavericks, the Thunder could ill-afford to lose Gilgeous-Alexander for any length of time. This was the first time in 41 games this season that he sat out.
So what happened? The Thunder got just 22 points in the paint. They shot 11-of-33 in the paint. That’s unheard of for NBA players to only make 33 percent of their shots from point-blank range. And the Thunder shot just 12 free throws, so credit the Mavericks for their defensive effort. They knew SGA was not there, so they made life miserable for anybody who got close to the basket and rotated smartly to the Thunder’s shooters on the perimeter.
OKC got just two fast break points.
Two.
That’s 20 fewer than the Mavericks.
All of that is why Oklahoma City shot just 38.5 percent from the field. And that number includes hitting just 15-of-45 shots from inside the three-point arc. That tells you it was a wonderful defensive night for the Mavericks.
“It was good,” said Naji Marshall of the defense after he had 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. “I feel like we locked in and the competition came out in us.”
Here’s our other takeaways from an important victory for the Mavericks:
Sweeping away the garbage: Though the Mavericks said it was out of their system, the loss in New Orleans when an obvious late goaltending violation went uncalled is not the easiest thing to discard. But coach Jason Kidd had an explanation for why the Mavericks seemed to be playing with no lingering concern. “This team doesn’t hang on to things too long,” he said. “They push forward and that shows the character and fight. I thought the energy and effort was high tonight.”
Not on each other’s Christmas list: P.J. Washington might be public enemy No. 1 in Oklahoma City. And he’s fine with that. “He plays well against them and knows them well,” Kyrie Irving said. “(He just has) a confidence and verve.” Even though Washington wasn’t a huge scorer on Friday (he had 16 points), he was a major impact player because he was in the middle of every scuffle, dust-up and anything else physical that happened between the teams. And when the Mavericks were struggling in the third quarter? What was Washington’s message? “Let’s just keep battling,” Irving said. “He kept talking.” And the Mavericks kept playing. And winning.
Growth spurt for O-Max: The Mavericks keep seeing players exit. It was Dwight Powell in the second half on Friday, as well as Jaden Hardy earlier. So opportunities abound for other players like O-Max Prosper. He came off the bench and played nine impactful minutes, contributing seven points and two rebounds. His three-pointer early in the second quarter came when the Mavericks were trailing 29-22 and needed a jolt. It also came after he’d passed up a couple of corner triples, despite the crowd egging him on to shoot. “I thought the play of the game was when he turned down two threes and got the ball, that just shows patience,” Kidd said. “They don’t teach that at AAU. We have to teach that here at the highest level. And I thought he showed a lot of patience instead of taking that first one and letting the crowd get to him at home about shooting the ball, it just shows the maturity.”
Aches and pains: The Mavericks will have to wait and see whether Dwight Powell, who left the game in the second half with what looked to be a hit to the midsection, and Jaden Hardy, who reinjured his previously sprained right ankle, will be available Monday in Charlotte. Dereck Lively II, who missed Friday’s game, also is on the bubble for returning.
X: @ESefko
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