Our takeaways from the Mavericks’ 111-107 loss to Atlanta on Saturday night.
Tough way to end it: Yes, you can say the Mavericks should never have let the Hawks get a lead on them late. The 13-point lead Dallas had early in the fourth quarter didn’t last and while they didn’t exactly fold, they did fail defensively when it came to meeting the Hawks’ upgraded execution down the stretch. Still, the long video review that ended with a controversial call on the blocked shot that Dorian Finney-Smith had against Trae Young was a bitter pill. The Mavericks know they could have done things to avoid the situation. But they felt like they weren’t given a level playing field down the stretch. Mark Cuban was vocal about it, addressing specific officiating issues for the first time in what he estimated was 18 months. At least venting about it gets the point across that the Mavericks felt they were jobbed in this one.
Heartbreaking loss, but loaded with heart: If you discard the controversial way the game ended, it was one of the most impressive displays of determination the Mavericks have had all season. They were without Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Willie Cauley-Stein and lost Jalen Brunson 10 seconds into the game with a shoulder injury. The guys who were left rallied around each other and played a gutsy game, despite having played Friday night in Orlando. “We’re undermanned, we lose Brunson on the first play of the game,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We showed a lot of heart. We, a little bit, ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, but the fight was there the whole time and I’m real proud of the group. Just real disappointed of the way it ended.”
Manpower shortage: It wasn’t just the absence of Doncic and Porzingis. The Mavericks really missed Brunson, who has a steadying impact on the team when things get tense as they did down the stretch. They also missed Maxi Kleber in the final 1:13 after he fouled out. They also needed him earlier in the quarter when he got his fifth foul and took a seat briefly. Kleber filled in well for Porzingis. It was the third consecutive game that the Mavericks’ center has had five blocked shots. Porzingis had five in the previous two games.
Speaking of Brunson: It was good to see Brunson upbeat after the game. He said his shoulder is not as bad as he thought it might be. That’s the good news. Still, the Mavericks weren’t pleased with the shove Atlanta center Dewayne Dedmon gave Brunson his layup 10 seconds into the game. Brunson hit the deck hard, his right shoulder dislocated and only a common foul was called. The play wasn’t even reviewed. It’s the sort of foul that wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow in 1990. But in 2020, it’s the sort of play the league usually frowns upon. We’ll see if there is any response from the league office in a game that is sure to lead to all sorts of league involvement.
Young came alive: The Hawks were trailing 86-77 through three quarters and their young superstar Trae Young had just 12 points to that point. The Mavericks were doing a wonderful job with Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and others shadowing Young. But he came alive with 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range in the fourth quarter to lead the Hawks’ comeback. He ended up with 25 points and 10 assists and, of course, the set-up shot that allowed John Collins to follow up Young’s missed layup with 8.4 seconds left, providing the clinching points for the Hawks.
Twitter: @ESefko
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