The Mavericks have impressed over the last month, playing with one of the best starting lineups in the league.
Over the last month the Dallas Mavericks have proved to be one of the more balanced teams in the league. They’ve done so with a demanding travel schedule, one that came to a screeching halt since their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the quarterfinal of the NBA Cup. With travel slowing, and less games over the last week, the Mavericks are looking to reset some. That also means regaining health from both their superstars, as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both missed their return game home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Health concerns aside, the Mavericks have looked the part of a contender when all hands are on deck. Their starting unit is now the best group of five in the league among the 29 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes together. It’s those marks that are the focus to this week’s Power Rankings Watch.
The Athletic
Rank: 4 (Tier 1: Top Contenders)
Last week: 4
Trade Winds: PF Maxi Kleber
If you want to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs. The Mavericks have a lot of roster spots used on charity right now. Markieff Morris never plays. Dwight Powell at least has some utility as the third center whenever Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford is not available. This is Kleber’s eighth season with the Mavericks, but he has spent the season either being injured or ineffective as he nears his 33rd birthday. At the very least, Olivier-Maxence Prosper needs some more run to see if he can be P.J. Washington’s backup. Kleber is signed through 2026, but Dallas needs to consider an upgrade.
ESPN
Rank: 6
Last week: 4
Power forward P.J. Washington has established himself as one of the West’s most essential role players. The Mavs are 1-5 in games Washington has missed this season, including the NBA Cup knockout round loss in Oklahoma City. That’s one of only two losses for the Mavs in the month since Washington returned from a sprained knee. He has averaged 14.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals while typically taking the toughest defensive assignment to start games during that stretch. — MacMahon
NBA
Rank: 4
Last week: 4
The Mavs’ loss in Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup quarterfinals was their worst offensive performance (104 points on 100 possessions) of the season. Their win at Golden State on Sunday was their best (143 on 101).
Three takeaways
The Thunder took the ball out of Luka Dončić’s hands and he had more turnovers (six) than assists (five), while also shooting just 5-for-15 from the field. Oklahoma City can rotate out of two-on-the-ball situations better than most teams and overall, the Mavs have scored more efficiently when the opponent has used blitz or show coverage against Dončić (1.18 points per possession) than they have otherwise (0.99), according to Second Spectrum tracking.
The Warriors couldn’t take anything away, with Dončić scoring 45 points and assisting on another 34. That total (79 points scored or assisted on) is the highest for any player in a game this season, though just the ninth-highest of his career.
P.J. Washington missed the loss in Oklahoma City but returned on Sunday when the Mavs’ current starting lineup (with Dereck Lively II at the five) eclipsed the 100-minute mark. It was a plus-20 in the 10-point win at Golden State and has now outscored opponents by 22.5 points per 100 possessions, the best mark among the 29 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes.
Having traversed the country multiple times as they’ve played 13 of their last 17 games on the road, the Mavs will now have four days off. That is followed by a four-game homestand that begins with their first two meetings with the Clippers.
Bleacher Report
Rank: 5
Last week: 5
It doesn’t sound like anything too serious, but Luka Dončić (heel contusion) and Kyrie Irving (shoulder soreness) both missed Thursday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. And the Dallas Mavericks predictably lost.
But whenever the Mavs have had both of those stars available, they’ve looked like a real threat to represent the West in the Finals again.
When Irving and Luka are both on the floor, Dallas is plus-10.6 points per 100 possessions.