With Luka Doncic out with injury, the Mavericks can still build momentum thanks to the new pieces this season.
It is less than 20 games into the season, but the Dallas Mavericks have already navigated several bumps in the road. Injuries have challenged their depth, which overlapped with some poor play and bad breaks in the clutch — all normal in the life of a season. But for a team with aims to return to (and win) the NBA Finals, this much adversity early can be more than a setback.
and the hits keep coming. As reported Thursday, Luka Doncic will be out for at least a week as he recovers from a right wrist sprain. While missing your best player for extended time is never ideal, the good news is the Mavericks showed signs of playing well without him against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week. The strength of that depth is largely the focus of this week’s NBA Power Rankings Watch. Thanks to the offseason acquisitions, and the recent play of Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington, having robust depth to lean on when Doncic is out is what differentiates this team from previous seasons and is what could stabilize the team through rough waters.
Here’s where the Mavericks sit in this week’s watch!
ESPN
Rank: 12
Last week: 9
The Mavs went 1-4 in the stretch that forward P.J. Washington missed due to a sore knee. He made his presence felt in a major way in his second game back, setting season highs with 27 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday’s road win over the Thunder. That served as a reminder of the critical role that Washington played in the Mavs’ West semifinals win over the Thunder last season. Washington averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in that series, when he shot 46.9% from 3-point range. — MacMahon
The Athletic
Rank: 15 (Tier 3: The Bubble)
Last week: 14
Most Notable Injury: PF P.J. Washington (knee sprain)
Washington missed 12 days with a knee sprain, and the Mavericks suffered four straight losses in the process, all within three points. Fortunately for Dallas, Washington was able to return in time for one of the very best lines of his career: 27 points, 17 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting in a close win at Oklahoma City. Washington shouldn’t have to be that critical. But his engagement and activity complement the Mavs, and none of their bench players showed they can be relied on to step into the lineup like Washington.
NBA
Rank: 7
Last week: 11
After losing four straight games by a total of eight points, the Mavs went 2-0 over the weekend, picking up their best win of the season in Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
Three takeaways
The Mavs were without Luka Dončić on Sunday, but ended their streak of six straight losses in clutch games, escaping with a win (when Lu Dort missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer) after blowing almost all of a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead. For the season, they’ve allowed 71 points on 54 clutch possessions (131 per 100).
But without Dončić, they scored 121 points on 97 possessions against the league’s No. 1 defense, getting to the line for 36 free throws and shooting 11-for-27 (41%) from 3-point range. That ended an amazing streak of six straight games where they shot no better than 33% from deep. Kyrie Irving hasn’t been the problem and is still shooting better than 50% (38-for-73) from 3-point range.
The Mavs needed a big offensive game because they’ve allowed 14.5 more points per 100 possessions on the road (119.3, 28th) than they have at home (104.8, third best). That’s tied for the second-biggest home-road differential on either end of the floor.
It’s tied with the Pelicans’ offense, which has been 14.5 points per 100 possessions better at home. And the Mavs will host the shorthanded Pels on Tuesday before heading out on a three-game trip that takes them from Denver to Miami.
Bleacher Report
Rank: 10
Last week: 12
After a four-game losing streak had the Dallas Mavericks’ vibes on the ropes last week, they went 3-0 for the week prior to these rankings. That stretch included blowouts over the San Antonio Spurs and short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, but the biggest victory was on the road and against the then-first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.
Of course, OKC is without Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, but it’s still a quality result for a Mavericks squad that really needed one, especially since Luka Dončić was out for them.
On the season, Dallas is actually winning the minutes without Luka, which bodes well for their regular-season potential. And when Dončić is off the floor, Kyrie Irving is averaging 30.1 points and 5.9 assists per 75 possessions, with a 68.5 true shooting percentage.