The 5 takeaways from the Mavs’ 132-123 loss to the Washington Wizards
Mar 7, 2019Dwain Price
POWELL SETS ANOTHER RECORD: Five games after setting his career-high scoring with 24 points in a road contest against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 25, Dwight Powell was back in record-breaking mode again. On Wednesday, the five-year veteran topped his performance against the Clippers by pouring in a career-high 26 points – again on the road — against the Washington Wizards. And he did it by converting 11-of-12 shots from the field. That’s also the most field goals Powell has ever made in a game. In addition, Powell capped off his sterling night by hauling in 10 rebounds.
LUKA IN RAREFIED AIR AGAIN: Luka Doncic continues to place himself in rarefied air. In places where very few people have gone. Wednesday was yet another example. Doncic finished with a game-high 31 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, seven assists and a game-high four steals. The only rookies in NBA history with similar eye-popping (31-11-7-4) numbers are some guy name Michael Jordan and another guy name Alvan Adams. Doncic was in such control that had his teammates made some of the open looks he set them up with, he probably would have finished with 15 or more assists. It’s the eighth 30-point game this year for Doncic.
JACKSON DISPLAYED A LOT OF ACTION: Now that he admits he’s finally comfortable playing in the Mavs’ system, Justin Jackson showed precisely what he can do. In 25 minutes of the bench Wednesday, the second-year forward out of North Carolina tallied 10 of his 18 points in the first quarter. That’s the most points Jackson has scored in a game since the Mavs acquired him in a Feb. 6 trade that sent Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings. Jackson was 5-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. That ties for the most 3-pointers he’s ever made in a game.
SECOND-CHANCE, PAINT AND FASTBREAK POINTS: Because the Mavs were unable to keep the Wizards off the offensive boards, Washington was able to outscore Dallas in second-chance points, 27-14. Some of that, coach Rick Carlisle said, is because the Mavs are not very tall, which makes grabbing a sufficient amount of rebounds more challenging. Also, the Wizards got the best of the Mavs in points in the paint, where they outscored Dallas, 62-52. In addition, Washington outscored the Mavs in fastbreak points, 18-4.
THE NOWITZKI TREATMENT: Dirk Nowitzki received thunderous ovations during pregame introductions when he started the previous five games. But since he didn’t start Wednesday’s game, the Wizards’ fans had to wait until he entered the game for the first time with 2:34 remaining in the opening quarter before they could shout and express their appreciation for the Mavs’ superstar forward. And the fans shouted everything from “We Want Dirk” to “MVP” throughout the game. Even Emily Haber, the German ambassador to the United States, was on hand at Wednesday’s game.
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