In the absence of Kyrie Irving (foot), the Mavericks start with a bang offensively, relying on their most insolent external success, with Grant Williams who turns into the perfect lieutenant of Luka Doncic.
The fact remains that their defense is not the most stifling there is and, in the racket, the Grizzlies therefore take advantage of this to lay down the law and pick up and then move ahead, thanks to Desmond Bane And David Roddywhich complete the distant address of Marcus Smart (36-30).
Strangely, and while the pace drops as much as the shooting percentages, Dallas gets his head back on track without Luka Doncic, on the bench, but with… Derrick Jones, untenable in attack. The Texan rotations are effective, in any case more than those of Memphis, and as soon as “Luka Magic” comes back into play, he takes charge of hitting the locals with shots, each one more enormous than the last! A real offensive recital from the Slovenian, despite the efforts of Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson. to answer him (67-61).
After the break, the Bane/Jaren Jackson Jr. duo continues to struggle to bring the Grizzlies back, but Derrick Jones Jr. remains on cloud nine and keeps the Mavericks in control, with the help of Tim Hardaway Jr.. out of the bench. A “THJ” who then does what is necessary to repel the attacks of Marcus Smart, and even better, since the gap widens further for the Texans (97-86). And Luka Doncic doesn’t even need to work for it…
In the last act, put into orbit by a Luka Doncic who validates his triple-double, the Dallas second knives bring the gap to around twenty points. We are heading towards a finish without suspense, except that Memphis comes back to life in an unexpected way, with four 3-point baskets almost in quick succession! Moment chosen by “Luka Magic” to assume his status and step on the accelerator, in order to fold the matter without trembling (125-110).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– No Kyrie Irving, no problem for Dallas. With Luka Doncic again in triple-double, the Mavericks signed a quality collective performance in Tennessee. Incandescent 3-pointers, they quickly highlighted the defensive fragility of the Grizzlies, unable to slow them down later in the evening. A very good performance, even though their second best player was missing. Like what, the supporting cast by Luka Doncic is perhaps more solid and provided than in the past…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Derrick Jones. Rather than mentioning the inevitable Luka Doncic, let’s instead remember the great contribution of “DJJ”, quite simply the author of one of his best career matches. We will particularly remember his second quarter, to put the Mavericks in front without Luka Doncic, as well as his third quarter, to resist the claws of the Bane/Jackson Jr duo.
⛔ Memphis defense. If Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart did everything they could on offense to guide the Grizzlies to their first success, we cannot say that it was the same defensively. Like the entire team, since Taylor Jenkins’ men let the Mavericks shoot 23/47 behind the arc, in addition to appearing 24 times on the throwing line. Far too simple for Luka Doncic to be able to manipulate, with his passes or his scoring, this “defense” which only had the name.
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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.
