Kristaps Porzingis keeps using the words “free” and “fun” when explaining why he’s been so productive this season.

It is as if Porzingis was caught on some type of ferris wheel the past few seasons, and a new operator showed up and set him free. That may explain why the 7-3 forward has been so efficient this season.KP is balling

“I’m just playing feeling free, I would say that’s the main thing,” Porzingis said. “I’m just feeling free to play my game, and then my teammates are trusting me, my coaches are trusting me and I’m coming out there and just having fun.”

Porzingis is having so much fun that in the last seven games he’s averaging 26 points and 9.3 rebounds, and shooting 52.8 percent from the field (66-of-125) and 40.5 percent from behind the three-point line (17-of-42). That incudes a 30-point, seven-rebound showing in Tuesday’s 112-104 win in overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It was a game that Porzingis completely took over in the overtime session when he scored six of the Mavs’ nine points, and also came up with a pair of critical offensive rebounds.

What stood out prominently in Tuesday’s contest is that it was the first game for superstar point guard Luka Dončić after he sat out three straight games with sprains in his left knee and left ankle, and it was generally assumed that Porzingis would take a back seat and let Dončić take over in overtime. But that obviously wasn’t the case.

KP chilling“Sometimes when a star player comes back there’s a tendency that things can change,” coach Jason Kidd said. “But I thought KP played his game that he’s always played.”

And when Porzingis has “played his game,” that spells trouble for the defense.

“He’s playing at a very high level, he’s having fun and he’s doing it on both ends, defensively and offensively,” Kidd said. “He was 10-for-10 at the line (against the Clippers), and he came up with some big offensive rebounds for us to give us another opportunity.

“He didn’t force anything.”

What Porzingis was able to accomplish on Tuesday was similar to what he’s been doing all season. His body language has proven that he’s not the same player the Mavs acquired in a Jan. 31, 2019 trade with the New York Knicks, and he’s also scored at least 21 points in each of the last seven games.

“If you’re not having fun, then it’s tough to play and give it your all,” Porzingis said. “I feel like this year we have that kind of environment and we’re just playing hard for each other and having fun out there.”

There goes that word again from Porzingis – fun.KP with the solid move

“I’m just playing my game,” he said. “I’m not really doing anything that I’m not used to.

“Some post-ups, some attacks from outside, offensive rebounds, energy, blocking shots. Yeah, the complete game, I would say.”

And a complete game that was helped by the return of Dončić, who finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists on Tuesday.

“He’s always willing to make the right play,” Porzingis said of Dončić. “If they’re double-teaming him and he doesn’t like the shot or he doesn’t like to attack against two guys, he will hit the next guy and we just have to make sure that we make the next play after that.

“He can’t do everything by himself. It’s fun to have him out there, for sure.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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