The days are passing, but the buzz about Luka Dončić and his amazing 60-point triple double continues to echo through the NBA.
It’s been such a hot topic that we may have understated one rather large fact: the play that sent the game into overtime works about as often as a 15-year-old cleans their room.
The intentionally missed free throw almost always fails.
Houston Rockets’ coach Stephen Silas, who was an assistant to Rick Carlisle for Luka’s first two seasons in Dallas, put it in perspective before his team took on the Mavericks Thursday at American Airlines Center.
“So, this is my 22nd or 23rd year (coaching) and I’ve seen it work twice,” Silas said. “That’s over 1,000 games. That game, and we actually played Houston in the bubble when I was here (with the Mavericks) and they missed a free throw and tipped it in at the very end.
“It doesn’t happen very often.”
Especially when the shooter also turns into the tipper and is on his way to 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.
Silas said that the Rockets were on their team plane when they heard of Luka having 40-some points and the Mavericks were losing to the Knicks. He quickly got the game on his phone – just in time to see the second free throw missed intentionally, the scramble for the rebound and Luka’s flip into the net.
“Yeah, it is amazing,” Silas said. “He’s getting to the free-throw line a ton. He’s shooting more free throws than ever and it’s helping his scoring.
“It’s always been his passing that has been the thing that has separated him from everybody else. But now he’s added the scoring, which makes him just a nightmare to defend and prepare for.”
Reset, reboot, refocus: After such an emotional comeback win like Tuesday’s, getting re-centered for the next game came be a challenge.
“It’s hard when you’re a part of something like that – you’re talking about history,” coach Jason Kidd said. “You can easily come in and grab that same seat and watch.”
That’s not what the Mavericks intended on doing. That’s also why Kidd is trying his best to get Dončić as much assistance on the court – and rest off of it.
“We have to help him,” Kidd said. “We got to be able to get easy baskets. We got to be able to improve in the transition game because when you (lean on) Luka for 75 or 80 possessions, that’s just too much to ask him to do on a nightly basis. That’s unfair.
“Guys got to step up and make open shots. He’s going to be able to do what he needs to do. But when we’re playing four-on-three we got to be able to punish the opponent. Sometimes when you go through something like that the other night, it’s easy to come and relax because you know you got one of the best players in the world who can bail you out. But if we can go in with the mentality that we’re hungry, that only helps Luka.”
Kidd also joked that “recovery beer” helped Luka come out of Tuesday’s game with a full tank of energy for Thursday’s game.
Injury update includes Bullock: In addition to Maxi Kleber, Josh Green and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Mavericks had a new addition to the sick bay on Thursday as Reggie Bullock was sidelined with a non-COVID illness.
With Bullock sidelined, that meant the Mavericks were shy on wing players. Frank Ntilikina was inserted into the starting lineup and Kidd said that the injury situation will require some juggling with the rotation.
“You got to use everyone,” he said. “(Jaden) Hardy’s going to play early. Theo (Pinson) is a candidate. Frank. You got to use everybody. That’s just the nature of where we are right now.”
Defensive chops: The Mavericks generally have played stouter defense of late, which is a main reason why they had a four-game winning streak coming into the Houston game.
Kidd said that part of the difference is that the season has pushed past two months and newcomer Christian Wood is starting to feel more comfortable with what the Mavericks need from him on the defensive end.
“He’s come up with some big blocked shots there late in games for us,” Kidd said. “He had four against Houston (last week) and the other night against the Knicks, he comes up with a couple, especially that jump shot that was very impressive. (And it’s) not just the blocked shots, but being able to end the possession with a rebound for us.”
Kidd said he saw the same thing happen last year, but it was team-wide.
“It was new last year,” he said of his first season as Mavs coach. “But I thought once everybody understood what we’re trying to do, our defense helped us win games. Hopefully that’s the same case here.”
Briefly: It’s a little-known fact that the Mavericks now have two members of the 60-point club. Kemba Walker had 60 when he was with Charlotte on Nov. 17, 2018, during a 122-119 overtime loss to Philadelphia . . . One of the big hits of Thursday night’s game was the Dončić Dancey Dance Cam during a second-quarter timeout. If you missed Luka’s hand-fluttering, no-rhythm dance after his putback of the missed free throw on Tuesday, the fans did a pretty solid job of re-creating it.
Twitter: @ESefko
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