Playing the same team for the second time in five days can have its challenges. Especially if both teams reside in the same division.
But the Dallas Mavericks overcame whatever challenges they faced and upended Memphis, 104-96, on Wednesday — five days after losing at home to the Grizzlies by seven points.
“A lot of times when you play a team so close almost in a sense of back-to-back, things get a little testy because you know what’s coming,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We did a great job in keeping our composure.
“Again, we tried to find a way to win on the road. You’ve got to play above the whistle, and I thought the guys did that (Wednesday).”
The victory brought the Mavs (12-12) to within one-and-a-half games of the Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies (14-11). It also snapped the Mavs’ three-game losing streak and the Grizzlies’ five-game winning streak.
Here are our five takeaways from the Mavs’ victory over the Grizzlies.
DONCIC DID IT AGAIN: When a team is struggling, they tend to lean on their superstar to dig them out of a crisis. That was the case as Luka Doncic took charge and guided the Mavs to their eight-point win. Doncic was the guiding light on a night that saw him score 26 points, grab eight rebounds and dispense seven assists. Never mind the nine turnovers he committed. Doncic was 10-of-19 from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc. He also had eight of his points and five of his rebounds in the frantic fourth quarter.
MOSES DELIVERED: When asked way back during his introductory press conference to the Dallas media over the offseason if he had any more 20-20 games in him like the one he produced against Boston last season, Moses Brown said he did. Well, he didn’t exactly deliver one of those iconic games Wednesday. But Brown did put on his best performance of the season and was a key figure in this victory. Brown produced season highs in points (nine), rebounds (seven) and minutes (12), and also blocked a season-high tying two shots. In addition, he showed some true grit all night long.
BULLOCK FOR THREE: One night after missing all six of his three-point attempts during a three-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Reggie Bullock bounced back to convert 4-of-6 from downtown. Bullock’s 66.7 shooting percentage from beyond the three-point arc was his best percentage this season when he’s attempted at least four treys. It also silenced the critics who noted that Bullock was just 2-of-17 from behind the stripe in the three previous games and is shooting a career-low 28.2 percent from downtown. Bullock finished the night with 15 points and a season-high four assists.
DEFENSE ROSE UP – AGAIN: The Mavs held an opponent under 100 points for the second time in the past three games. And during a season when teams score as many points on the court as a person can on a video game, that’s saying something. (Remember, the Grizzlies scored a whopping 152 points against Oklahoma City last week and won by an NBA-record 73 points). Against the Mavs, the Grizzlies shot just 40 percent from the field, 29 percent from three-point territory and scored only 21 points in the fourth quarter. And in the game’s final 8:35, Dallas outscored Memphis, 25-17. By the way, the Mavs are 5-2 when holding a foe under 100 points.
MAVS WON THE PRIDE TEST: Before Wednesday’s game, coach Jason Kidd talked but how his team was being tested in the aftermath of going 2-8 in their 10 games. Everything from their attitude to their approach to the game was being tested. Five of those eight losses were by seven points or less, meaning if the Mavs could just tie up a few loose ends here and there, it could change the final outcome. Taking on a more aggressive mentality didn’t hurt either, which is precisely what the Mavs did Wednesday. They matched fire with fire and proceeded to beat the Grizzlies at their own aggressive game.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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