Here’s our takeaways from the Mavericks’ 122-111 victory over Detroit at Mexico City.
Getting used to this: There was a time when Detroit’s Griffin was the best player on the floor when he was in any game. No more. Same goes for Andre Drummond. Or Kristaps Porzingis. This is Luka’s world now. We’re all just watching it go by. And enjoying every minute. Luka Doncic had 41 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and it was the first time anybody’s ever had a triple double in an NBA game in Mexico. He was the crowd favorite from the very start, although Detroit’s Derrick Rose got plenty of support from the sellout crowd. Doncic put on a heck of a show and this is pretty much the way it’s expected to be nowadays. He’s no longer the 20-year-old phenom. He’s a superstar, pure and simple. And he does what superstars do.
Terrific support all around: It wasn’t just Luka. The Mavericks had several players who flat-out balled on Thursday, starting with Seth Curry and including Kristaps Porzingis and Dwight Powell. All of these players benefited from having Doncic on the court with them. The attention he draws makes life easier on everybody. Powell and Porzingis certainly were beneficiaries of several Doncic lob passes that they turned into hard-hitting dunks. Powell had nine points and 10 rebounds. Porzingis had 20 points and eight boards. Curry, however, scored 13 of his 23 first-half points when Doncic was resting. That’s going to be one of the critical things for the Mavericks going forward. They always are tough to cover when Doncic is in the game. Being able to keep the scoreboard moving when he’s taking a break is crucial. That’s a major reason why the Mavericks tried to build the best bench in the league.
Crashing the boards: Detroit has the best rebounder in the NBA in Drummond, but the Mavericks crushed the Pistons on the boards 52-34. Powell, Porzingis and Doncic combined for 30 rebounds and Curry had seven off the bench. The Mavericks have been a pretty solid rebounding team for most of the season and that’s contributed mightily to their 17-7 record.
Block part usually a good sign: Porzingis may have had his most effective game in more than a month. He not only had 20 points and eight rebounds, but also rejected three Detroit shots and altered several others. Porzingis now is averaging more than two per game, ranking in the top 10 in the league. He’s also deterred plenty of would-be drivers from taking the ball all the way to the rim. In games when he’s blocked three or more shots, the Mavericks are 6-2. As Doncic said after the Detroit game, “what KP is doing after being out so long is amazing. And he’s only going to get better.”
New frontiers: With news that the NBA is going to place a G-League team in Mexico City starting next season, the Mavericks could feel proud that they helped lay the groundwork for that expansion with their work over the last few seasons. Their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, have a great relationship with many movers and shakers in the basketball world in Mexico. Plus, the Mavericks have made seven trips south of the border for games. Thursday’s was another historic moment for basketball in Mexico. “It was a great game,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “The crowd was tremendous. The crowd was rooting for both teams. This is our second time in Mexico City (in the last four seasons). We had a great experience here.” The Mavericks, by the way, had a flawless trip to Mexico City. Traffic was tolerable, the game was a big victory and nobody came down with any serious illnesses.
Twitter: @ESefko
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