Another strong effort for the undermanned Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks fell under .500 after playing the Phoenix Suns, dropping a Sunday afternoon ABC game, 125-116. Devin Booker led a balanced Suns scoring effort with 24. Naji Marshall was one rebound short of a 30+ point triple double as he scored a career high 34, grabbed nine boards, and dished 10 assists.
The medical Mavericks opened up the game with their now-standard small ball line up and for a good chunk of the first quarter, held the line against the longer, taller Phoenix Suns. But by the final minutes of the opening frame, the Suns seemed to realize they were more talented (along with being bigger) and put Dallas on what would become a double digit run extending into the second quarter. Dallas found themselves down 32-24 after twelve minutes.
After an extended Suns run that grew to as many as 15 points, the Mavericks settled down and attacked Phoenix at the rim and finally forced tougher shots. The Mavericks poured in 30 points in the quarter after a difficult opening period. Dallas whittled the lead down slowly. Dallas pulled within four but ended up trailing at the half, 60-54.
Phoenix started the third quarter in a more purposeful way, scoring in ways that displayed the talent gap between the two rosters. They quickly returned the lead to double digits and threatened to run away with the game over the course of the quarter. A Naji Marshall scoring barrage (again, just like last game) helped keep the game within striking distance for Dallas. The Mavericks entered the fourth down 96-87.
Dallas simply wouldn’t go away. Phoenix looked ready to break the game open for the third time, growing their lead to 14 again, only for Dallas to chop away, bringing it to within eight. Dwight Powell and Kessler Edwards ran into each other, forcing the former from the game. Brandon Williams also hurt his hamstring. Despite Marshall’s scoring run, Dallas just didn’t have the horses to stick with the Suns.
Well, at least the Mavericks are shooting well
Dallas has hung around these last two games in no small part because of amazing three point shooting. They connected on 17 of 41 as a team against the Suns and it helped keep Dallas within range as they mounted several comebacks. Now, that shooting might dry up at some point, and given how hard it can be for Dallas to score when that happens, simply keep the recent shooting stats in mind.
Naji “Luka Doncic” Marshall
There haven’t been many revelations this season (well, past how Nico Harrison doesn’t know ball and the basketball gods do not like Dallas now), seeing what Naji Marshall can do from all over the floor is fun. Earlier in the season, his floater was a killer, but recently we’ve been blessed with his shooting, driving, passing, rebounding, and all the skills he had on display against the Suns. Is he a true driver of an offense? No, but he is awesome and finding guys who can score 30 points (like Brandon Williams did last game, as did Naji) isn’t easy.
Medical Mavericks just got more hurt
Dallas plays San Antonio tomorrow night. With Dwight Powell exiting the game (we don’t know his status yet) and Brandon Williams going down with a hamstring issue… there’s a chance Dallas has just 7 players available tomorrow night. And TWO of those guys in Dante Exum and Caleb Martin, will have injury designations. What’s going on right now with the injuries is beyond bleak. But at least these Mavericks keep fighting.