OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mavericks have had many games this season when their opponent was missing their best player(s) and that team performed like victory was their birthright.
After Sunday night, the Mavs must be asking themselves why this phenomenon doesn’t work both ways.
For the fourth time this season, they played without Luka Dončić and for the fourth time, they could not find a way to win.
Three of the four losses have been to teams with losing records, including Sunday when the Oklahoma City Thunder took charge in the second quarter and never looked back, taking a 120-109 victory at Paycom Center.
Other than a regrettable second quarter, the Mavericks did not play poorly. But when you are without the hottest player on the planet over the last month, it’s a lot harder to scratch out victories.
When you lose the points-in-the-paint battle 56-24, you are usually fighting a losing battle in the NBA. The Mavericks were burned by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting, mostly from point-blank range.
“They do a great job,” coach Jason Kidd said. “They’re one of the best teams at attacking the paint and continuing to attack the paint. If one doesn’t (get to the rim), they pass it and the next one does. They did that on a consistent basis. Shai got to the paint. We tried to make it tough on him. He’s an all-star. And we just couldn’t stop him.
“But it was a six-point game. And we take two threes, two good looks, and missed and from there it was just uphill.”
Indeed, the Mavericks, who trailed by 14 early in the fourth quarter, were within 97-91 with nine minutes to go after a Frank Ntilikina jumper. But Davis Bertans and Jaden Hardy clanged three-pointers that could have made the Thunder sweat a little more.
There simply was no comeback in the cards after those missed three-pointers as Luguentz Dort hit a 3-pointer to make it 100-91. The lead grew to as much as 18 points down the stretch with perhaps the effects of back-to-back games catching up with the Mavericks.
They got a big night from Christian Wood (27 points, 16 rebounds) and 21 from Spencer Dinwiddie. But the Thunder never eased off the gas pedal. And the Mavericks, who started out hitting 10-of-14 three-pointers, cooled off considerably the rest of the way (4-of-25).
“There’s no excuse,” said Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 19 points. “I take full responsibility for this loss. I need to be better. Defensively, I take pride on that end of the floor making sure guys are in the right spots and I just got to be better, especially on the second end of a back-to-back without one of our main pieces playing. This all falls on me. That’s just how I feel. And I’ll be better.”
And so, the Mavericks reached the midpoint of the season at 23-18. It was a rough start to a five-game trip that heads to Los Angeles next for games against the Clippers and Lakers.
Oklahoma City improved to 18-22 and now have won three of their last four, beating Boston and the Mavericks in that run. The inability to stop the Thunder in the paint was a fatal flaw for the Mavericks.
“Our defense,” said Wood. “We were giving up easy drives to the rim. We weren’t supposed to let Shai go left and he was going left a lot. And they were getting a lot of 50-50 balls we weren’t. That’s the reason (for losing an 11-point lead in the first quarter).”
Resting Luka was the right thing to do on Sunday. He had played 39 minutes Saturday against New Orleans. And in the Mavericks’ last 10 games, Dončić averaged 36.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 8.9 assists. He also shot 37.8 percent from the field and played 37.7 minutes per game.
So they knew it was going to be a tough night without Dončić. But it started off well, with them taking a 31-20 lead. But over the last 15-plus minutes of the first half, the Thunder outscored the Mavericks 49-24.
Going in, Jason Kidd told his team that the Thunder could run up points in a hurry. They had scored 150 and won by 33 against Boston last week.
He reminded them of the 150-spot they put on the Celtics, who possess one of the best defenses in the league. And it still happened to the Mavericks, who were outscored in the paint 28-8 in the first half.
Injury update: The Mavericks not only sat Luka on Sunday, they also remained without Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber and Josh Green.
Green appears to be closest to returning out of those three. He has been doing contact drills in the last several days.
“We got to get a practice under his belt,” Kidd said. “He had a really good day today with his workout. The one-on-ones and the physicality. So now the next step is to get a practice and hopefully that will lead to him being able to suit up and play.”
The Mavericks should be able to get a full practice in Los Angeles while they are there for games against the Clippers and Lakers, with a day off in between.
Go Frogs go: Several members of the Mavericks will be attending the national championship game Monday in Los Angeles between TCU and Georgia.
Jason Kidd certainly will be there, courtesy of the Big 12.
“My advisory board membership of the Big 12 (was his connection) and the Big 12 is representing tomorrow,” he said. “So why wouldn’t I be there? I’ve heard they’ve made a jersey, which is kind of cool. To see the national championship game tomorrow should be fun.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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