The Dallas Mavericks are starting to figure it out. A loss to the Sixers backed Thursday, but Dallas will end February with a win over the hottest team in the league. Even with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant picking out the game, it was a win that could give the Mavericks momentum. James Harden scored 29 points and dished out six assistants, but that was still not enough as Brooklyn’s eight-game winning streak came to an end. Let’s look at some numbers:
9 Mavericks count at least one stem
The Mavericks, who have only two players averaging one steal per game this season, hosted a defense clinic tonight. The Nets and Mavericks both got sad about their defense this season, but tonight it seemed like every Maverick gave a lot of energy on that side of the track. It showed not only in Brooklyn who converted 19 times, but also with Dallas holding the Nets to just 34 points throughout the second half.
Dallas are now 14-0 in games where they lead to the first quarter
The Mavericks prove that hot starts become vital to their success. The 14 wins Dallas scored after a lead in the first quarter was the league point. The Mavericks are once again struggling with clutch problems as they finish 20th on the clutch net this season. Luckily for Dallas, they put themselves in the position to succeed.
The Mavericks are 11-2 if they make 14 or more tries this season
Dallas started their season with one of the ugliest shooting ranges I have seen. Dallas sits last in a three-point efficiency for most of the front of the schedule. Dallas has finally climbed out of the groove and finds a rhythm of deep. The Mavericks will end the month of February without a game where they have shot below 30 percent from deep. This is something that happened in eight games in the month. If they can keep shooting at this pace, the 11-2 record will be no fraud.