Hats off to the Dallas Mavericks for doing what they had to do Thursday and jumping on a New Orleans team that had all sorts of
traveling issues just trying to get to Dallas.
The Pelicans lost a game in Denver on Tuesday night and were slated to leave the Mile High City and fly to Dallas on Wednesday. But Mother Nature had other ideas.
Not only were the Pelicans unable to leave Denver on Wednesday because of icy conditions in Dallas. But they didn’t arrive in Dallas until 1:30 Thursday – just six hours before their game against the Mavs tipped off.
Knowing this, the Mavs ran and ran and ran some more until they built s 40-22 lead after the first quarter and a 62-31 lead midway through the second quarter. That strategy worked as the Mavs – coupled with Monday’s victory over the Detroit Pistons — got out of this homestand 2-0.
“All the wins are important, especially before the (All-Star) break,” coach Jason Kidd said. “A lot of times this is where teams can separate.
“But to come out of the homestand with two wins (is good), and now we’ve got a tough five-game road trip coming up here right before the break.”
Here are the three takeaways from the five-point win over the Pelicans.
GREEN’S STAR IS RISING: Right before our very eyes, Josh Green is steadily becoming a rising star. I get it. Green doesn’t have the cache as some of the other “name’ stars that roll off the average NBA fan’s tongue. But what he does for the Mavs is very impactful. The energy that he brings to the court, the timely shots, rebounds and defensive stops that he makes were all on center stage during Thursday’s 
win over the Pelicans. Green finished with 15 points, four rebounds, two steals and two key fourth-quarter baskets that aided the Mavs in their victory.
DONCIC JUMP-STARTED EVERYTHING: As is his custom, Luka Doncic got the Mavs off to a terrific start Thursday by scoring 21 points in the first quarter. Doncic was 7-of-11 from the field – 2-of-5 from three-point range – and 5-of-6 from the free throw line in just the first quarter. It’s the second straight game he’s scored at least 20 points in the first quarter after firing in 24 points in the opening quarter during Monday’s win over the Detroit Pistons. The last player to score at least 20 points in the first quarter in consecutive games was Tracy McGrady in 2003 when he was playing for the Orlando Magic.
FINNEY-SMITH STEADY AS A ROCK: Dorian Finney-Smith does a lot of the dirty work for the Mavs. It’s the work that goes unnoticed by the casual fan, but the work that’s very important during the course of a game. When Finney-Smith isn’t chasing point guards or high-scoring shooting guards across the court, he’s buckling down and trying to shut down the opposing team’s high-scoring forward. And in his spare time, Finney-Smith will lock horns with the other team’s center – although he may be giving up four or five inches. On Thursday, Finney-Smith finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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