The Mavericks are like every other NBA team. They are super-happy that the All-Star break has arrived and they get a weeklong break from the grind of a long, long season.
But there has to be a part of them that wishes they could just keep on playing right now, because business most certainly is good for them.
The Mavericks won their sixth consecutive game, overcoming an early deficit and crushing the San Antonio Spurs 116-93 Wednesday night at American Airlines Center.
Kyrie Irving was dazzling with 34 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Luka Dončić had another MVP-level game with 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
It’s the first time as teammates that Irving and Dončić each had 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the same game.
“Easy pickings,” Irving said. “Once we get into that pick-and-roll, it’s a high-efficiency play for us. And when I’m making a decision on the back end or he’s making a decision on the back end, that’s a successful play for our team.”
And as far as coach Jason Kidd is concerned, the play of Luka simply cannot be overstated.
“He should be mentioned more in the MVP conversation off what he’s done here this month,” Kidd said. “Heading into Indiana (for the All-Star Game), he’s one of the best in the world and we wish him the best of luck with that.
“But he also needs to get some rest and get ready. Everyone’s bunched up (in the Western Conference). One through four is bunched up. Five through nine is bunched up so every game is going to mean something and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The Mavericks have put themselves in position to rise in the West standings after the break.
Despite a sluggish start against the Spurs, they were sharp after the first quarter. With the win in the final game before the break, the Mavericks improved to 32-23 while the Spurs, who are in last place in the Western Conference, fell to 11-44.
Most importantly for the Mavericks is that they kept pace in the ultra-tight Western Conference.
And they have the look of a team that is jelling at a good time.
“The key word is team,” Kidd said. “I think we’re coming together. We’re starting to get healthy. That’s going to be a little bit of a change because we’re not used to being healthy. So minutes won’t be as high. Guys have to make that adjustment, but our depth should be one of our weapons. It should be an exciting second half.”
Said Irving: “Proud of our guys that we’re making incremental progress. It’s about us and everybody in that locker room staying focused and do the little things to be prepared.”
The Mavericks also welcomed back Dereck Lively II from a seven-game absence after suffering a broken nose that required surgery.
Lively was on a minutes restriction, but his active movement was a welcomed sight for the Mavericks, even if he was wearing a Batman-style black mask.
Asked what he was hoping for out of Lively, coach Jason Kidd said: “That he catch the ball. Anyone who’s had to wear the mask (knows) it’s not easy. Sometimes it is difficult to see the ball.”
Afterward, the commentary was nothing short of glowing about Lively. The Mavericks were a remarkable plus-27 in the 17 minutes Lively was on the floor.
“Lively was great,” Kidd said. “To be able to play the 17 minutes – he gave us a boost and the energy. It was good to get those 17 minutes under his belt before he goes up to Indiana to play in the baby All-Star Game.”
Lively is headed to Indy for the Rising Stars Game on Friday night.
His presence was big for the Mavericks on Wednesday, even if more eyes were on Spurs’ prized rookie Victor Wembanyama, who had a strong start to the game, scored 20 points in the first half, but finished with only 26. The Mavericks slowly figured out a few things about him.
Irving even got a reverse layup off over the 7-4 Wembanyama’s arms midway through the third quarter, when the Mavericks were opening up a 76-58 advantage. Wembanyama, who had 10 blocked shots Monday at Toronto, had three against the Mavericks.
Moments later, Dončić was working in the post and picked up his dribble. He went into spin-cycle mode, pivoting 360 degrees twice before lofting a midrange fadeaway that curled into the net for an 86-63 lead.
“I thought he was going to get dizzy as much as he was going in circles,” Kidd said.
When the Mavericks were done, they had completed a terrific reversal from the first quarter, when they trailed by as much as 15 points.
Before the game, Kidd had emphasized that the Mavericks could not come out flat, as they did Monday against Washington. So what happened?
Yep, they came out flat and were down 20-8 before the game was five minutes old.
But they found some energy late in the first quarter and by halftime, they had taken a lead that continued to grow in the third quarter.
X: @ESefko
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