Final: Wolves 97, Mavs 92

Box Score | Highlights

Behind the Box Score

The Mavericks have now led at halftime in seven of their last eight games.

Sixteen of the Wolves’ first 33 points of the game were second chance points, meaning they came after recovering an offensive rebound. Karl-Anthony Towns spearheaded the Wolves’ effort, helping them get off to a 33-27 lead. To the Mavs’ credit, though, they only allowed four such points the rest of the way and managed to get right back into the game. Rick Carlisle often talks about the precious nature of possessions, and that’s an example of what he means.

Notebook

  • Antonius Cleveland had himself a game. Before tonight, he’d never played eight minutes in a game as a pro, yet in this one he earned every one of his 18 minutes. The rookie finished with three steals and two blocks, playing super-active defense against a tough opponent in Andrew Wiggins. Both of his blocks came against the young Wolves star, made possible by solid footwork and his exceptional length.

    [wp_hyena imageurl=’https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cleveland-d-on-wiggins.gif’ data_hyena='{“slate”:”300,0.10,15″,”player_fade_speed”:”500″,”control_opacity”:”0,0.9″,”fade_speed”:”250,250″,”style”:2}’]

    [wp_hyena imageurl=’https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cleveland-d-on-wiggins-2.gif’ data_hyena='{“slate”:”300,0.10,15″,”player_fade_speed”:”500″,”control_opacity”:”0,0.9″,”fade_speed”:”250,250″,”style”:2}’]

    If he can keep producing like this, especially against longer wings like Wiggins against whom Cleveland is needed most, the rook could certainly earn himself some more playing time moving forward.

  • Lately there’s been something about Harrison Barnes and third quarters. The forward has now scored 33 points total in the team’s last four third frames, nine of which came tonight. That quarter has caused the Mavs some problems at times this season, but Barnes had personally averaged 5.2 points per third before tonight’s game. Perhaps the club can play through him for the first few minutes after every half in an effort to establish some rhythm and keep things under control until the “death lineup” of three guards, Dirk, and Powell comes in.

    What’s Next

    The Mavs (7-19) will play the San Antonio Spurs (19-8) on Tuesday at American Airlines Center at 7:30 p.m. Central.

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