Mavs are tops in the NBA in clutch wins with five

ORLANDO – It may not be generating much buzz around the NBA, but the Mavericks have been clutch so far this season.

So much so that less than two weeks into the season, the Mavs lead the league in clutch wins. Dallas is a perfect 5-0 in games where the scoring margin is five points or less with five or fewer minutes remaining in the game.

The results mean the Mavs know how to get it done when palms are sweaty and the final outcome is still hanging in the balance.

“When you have 77 (Luka Doncic) and 11 (Kyrie Irving), (winning in the clutch) is an easy thing,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We talked about last year.

“As much as we wanted for things to happen right away, you’ve got to go through the process of growing pains and getting to know one another. The other side of that, we’ve spent a lot of time on in-game situations, and everybody’s very comfortable.”

Everybody’s so comfortable that when Charlotte wouldn’t go quietly into the night during Sunday’s game, the Mavs had to do whatever it took to shake off the Hornets.

“We ran one play and Luka dominated the ball, but I thought Kai did a great job of being open in the corner,” Kidd said. “Those are shots that we all know that he can knock down.

“If he didn’t shoot it, he drives it to be able to finish or make a play for someone. I thought our quarterback was great, and our receivers were great with that.”

In the end, the Mavs defeated the Hornets, 124-118. On winning in the clutch, reserve guard Jaden Hardy said:

“(It’s just) trusting each other and staying poised through those moments and not hanging our heads low. (It’s about) just trusting each other and trusting the staff.”

*This is a brief one-game road trip before the Mavs return home to entertain the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. This also is the second leg of the Mavs’ first back-to-back of the season.

*The Mavs rallied back from a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Charlotte on Sunday. Last season the Mavs were 0-15 they when were behind by at least 12 points at halftime.

*The Magic and Mavs split their two games last season, with the home team holding serve in each game. Luka Doncic scored 44 points as the Mavs beat the Magic in Dallas, 114-105, last season on Oct. 30. Franz Wagner tallied 22 points to pace the Magic to a 94-87 win over the Mavs in Orlando last season on Nov. 9.

*Orlando led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter Saturday at home before they finished pounding the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-101.

*The Mavs have scored at least 110 points in all six games this season. That’s the first time in team history that they’ve accomplished that feat.

*Franz Wagner (26 points) and Paolo Banchero (25 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists) led the way for the Magic in their victory over the Lakers.

*The Mavs had seven players score 10 or more points against Charlotte. That only happened three times all last season.

*Center Goga Bitadze was a force in the middle for Orlando against the Lakers as he finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

*Rookie center Dereck Lively II collected 15 points and 14 rebounds against Charlotte. The Mavs are 2-0 this season when Lively produces a double-double.

DALLAS MAVERICKS (5-1) at ORLANDO MAGIC (4-2)

When: 6 p.m., Monday

Where: Amway Center, Orlando

TV: BSSW

Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice