In back-to-backhalf-time will have been enough for Mavericks to have the Heat (111-92), also on deck the day before. Nothing very surprising, when we noted that Luka Doncic (29 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists) and Kyrie Irving (25 points + victory bonus) were keen to quickly close the deal, despite Tyler Herro (21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Kevin Love (16 points, 11 rebounds).
So, Dallas started with a bang, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving authors of… 23 of the 31 Texan points in the first quarter. Irving (10) taking over from Doncic (13) to create a first break on the scoreboard (31-24), while 3-point baskets were raining down on the Mavs side (already seven).
“LuKyrie” knocks Miami out.
The Luka Doncic – Kyrie Irving show picks up again in the second quarter, between scoring and creation, to allow the Mavericks to take off with the score. As for Daniel Gafford, well supplied with balls, he takes care of pressing inside. The gap expands, and even re-inflates (69-47), except that Miami is KO., because punished on fast play, despite the efforts of Tyler Herro or Caleb Martin.
After the break, the Mavericks maintained their lead until the entry into play of Kevin Love who, from far and near, began to punish Texan defensive oversights to bring the Heat back into their match (88-74). Jason Kidd's attack is struggling, PJ Washington or Derrick Jones Jr. are trying to react, but Kevin Love continues to hurt, before it stops.
It is, in fact, the turn of the Heat attack to seize up, at the worst moment, because after returning to -8, the Florida franchise does not regain its offensive momentum and, for their part, the teammates of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving plant the right baskets, when needed, so as not to miss their chance until the end of the last act (111-92).
What you must remember
– Dallas offers revenge against Los Angeles. Not only did they obtain their 50th victory of the season and validate their title of champions of the South-West Division. In addition, the Mavericks have formalized the first poster for the 2024 playoffs: a series against the Clippers, in the first round! This is already the third time in four years that Mavs and Clipps have played each other at the start of the playoffs and, the first two times, it was Los Angeles who qualified (in six then seven games). Now for Act III of this “rivalry”, therefore, and given the dynamics of the two teams, this duel looks particularly indecisive, on paper…
– Miami (almost) condemned to the play-in. With two games behind the 6th place Pacers (46-34), and two games to play each between now and Sunday, the Heat (44-36) have undoubtedly said goodbye to direct qualification for the playoffs with this new defeat at home (only 20-19 on the season). If this does not suffer from any dispute, it has the merit of putting the Florida franchise on an unfavorable waiver with a view to the play-in against the 7th (Sixers?), because Erik Spoelstra's players will undoubtedly have to travel to This meeting. But… Is it ultimately such a bad thing (24-17 away on the season)?
– Another series to watch for Daniel Gafford ? After almost surpassing Wilt Chamberlain (35), regarding the number of shots taken consecutively by an NBA player (33), Daniel Gafford assured that he was going to try his luck again one day or another. This is already on the way, since he is now at 22 baskets in a row, with two games still to play in the season (the playoffs do not count). What if that was the last goal of the Mavericks and Gafford this week?
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
