Sixth victory in seven games for the Mavericks with a Luka Doncic who confirms his title of best player of the week with one of his best career performances: 49 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists! In its wake, Dallas won 125-118 without ever having been behind in the score, but still playing with fire in the last five minutes.
The Slovenian set the tone for the start with a 3-point festival. Yet the defenders are glued to him, but there is nothing to do, and he plants 19 points with a 4 of 5 from afar, including one at the buzzer. We know the gestures by heart, the defenses too, but he hits the mark and after twelve minutes, Dallas has already taken off: 45-27! After playing the entire first quarter, Doncic can rest, and it’s Davis Bertans who drives the point home. The gap fluctuates between 12 and 15 points, and when CJ McCollum wakes up his teammates, Luka Doncic comes back into play to extend his festival to 3-points. At halftime, Dallas leads by 13 points (71-58).
After the break, the Pelicans confirm and CJ McCollum, again him, brings his team back below the 10 point mark (75-67). Except that Doncic puts on his superhero cape, and he gives us the same show as in the first quarter. Poor Jaxson Hayes often finds himself in front of him, and he takes the water at 3-pointers or in penetration, like on this two-handed dunk. And Dallas takes off to lead by 24 points (105-81)!
We then think we are witnessing a long “garbage time”, except that Dallas relaxes and CJ McCollum loosens up. The former Blazer launches a 12-0, and New Orleans returns below the 10-point gap (115-106).
There are five minutes left to play, and the hold up is possible. Discreet until then, Brandon Ingram brings his people down to -5 at the start of “money time”. Luka Doncic responds to him in stride on one-on-one, then Jalen Brunson ensures the victory of the Mavs in free throws (125-118).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The 3-dot address. On each side, there are no real specialists in the long shot, but the two formations were very skilful: 19/40 for Dallas (47.5%) and 12/28 for New Orleans (42.9%). Like Doncic in the first quarter, most of the 3-point successes have been with a defender stuck to the attacker.
– Dallas barely in the racket. Kristaps Porzingis was taking up space and rebounding in Dallas. Without him, the racket is very empty, and the Pelicans largely dominated under the panels with 48 rebounds to 38, and especially 25 points scored on the 17 offensive rebounds recovered.
– A fire attack. Beyond Luka Doncic, the Mavericks are dangerous everywhere, and the use of Spencer Dinwiddie as a 6th man feels good. The former Nets and Wizards point guard has found himself well with Davis Bertans and Maxi Kleber, and Jason Kidd can afford to blow Luka Doncic. Not too long all the same as we saw in the second quarter…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Luka Doncic. 49 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 50% from 3-point range. No need to say more, even if his last lost ball could have given some cold sweats. The Slovenian is in control, and as he has been in a state of grace for 15 days, he can celebrate a 3-pointer even before he enters… He still misses two shots which would have allowed him to pass the 50 mark points.
✅Maxi Kléber. It is the symbol of the mobility of the Mavericks with this five without real pivot. He is complementary to Dwight Powell and he reads Luka Doncic’s movements well. His placement is essential in the attack, and we have already seen that he was well with Spencer Dinwiddie.
✅CJ McCollum. The Pelicans’ star rookie signs his best game of the season with 38 points. While his team was beaten down at the start of the 4th quarter, it was he who woke them up with his usual style, made of changes of rhythm, catch-and-shoot and address from afar. Too bad he lacked support.
⛔Garrett Temple. He had to take care of Luka Doncic, and he took a broth. Willie Green attempted shots in defense to slow down the opposing star, but the Slovenian wandered off.
THE FOLLOWING
New Orleans (23-26) : Eight days of rest before a resumption in Phoenix.
Dallas (35-24) : resume next Friday in Utah.
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