The Dallas Mavericks are over 500 again and are jumping back to win two in a row, the last 122-117 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
It was an interesting game where the Mavericks looked like world beaters for 40 minutes, a lottery team for about seven and then back to a rival in a last minute. Things certainly got a little hairy in the final moments, but the Mavericks got the points and make the mark needed to pull it across the finish line. Here are the important numbers of victory.
5: Turnover for the Mavericks
Dallas has just turned the ball over five times against San Antonio, a lowest season and which matches last season’s lowest season.
Luka Doncic was the only Maverick with at least two turnovers, while three other Mavericks had just one piece. That was a big reason why the Mavericks were both able to build up a big lead early on and stay afloat in the second half. The Dallas offense sometimes dried up in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks are conceded that they did not get sloppy and fueled the Spurs transition offense. If the Mavericks were more indifferent to the ball, it’s probably a loss for the Mavs.
90: Mavericks team free throw percentage
The Mavericks struggled off the line all season and were in the bottom half of the league on Friday night. It was a good sign to see Dallas round out 18-of-20 against San Antonio that night, especially in a close game.
It’s the Mavericks’ free-shooting games that have shot in the background, as they shot 82.4 percent against the Pacers on Wednesday. This is the first time that the Mavericks will play rugby games of more than 80 percent on the charity line.
Especially for West Iwundu, when he made the final two releases to clinch the game with the Mavericks three with two seconds left. The Spurs had a time-out and could have had the chance to draw if Iwundu had not made at least one and he eventually made both. It was good to see, especially after missing a clutch three-pointer a few minutes earlier.
56.4: Luka Doncic’s shooting percentage on middle distance jumpers
I steal this one from our teammate Hank, who remarked that Doncic is now equal to Stephen Curry for third place in the league in percentage on the middle distance shots for all players who have tried more than 35 shots from that series. Pretty good!
Doncic showed that he improved the midfield game against the Spurs, by mixing it with some quiet write-backs and a smooth turnaround in the bench. It was a reversal bench against LaMarcus Aldridge in the last minute that claimed the victory.
We all know that three is bigger than two and that shots in midfield are not necessarily the best, but it’s great to see Doncic diversify his score so he’s not one note when the defense clings. The turnaround shot against Aldridge was a face for sore eyes as you ponder how possession for the Mavericks last season (probably a bad setback-three) could have ended. Doncic learning a new trick is fun.
50: Kristaps Porzingis’ percentage on post-up shots against the Spurs
San Antonio got the chance and Kristaps dared Porzingis to beat them in the post and place Porzingis a little one instead of protecting him with Aldridge or Jakob Poeltl. The Spurs bet on Porzingis’ bad post numbers from last season and Porzingis lit it.
Porzingis shoots 3-out-6 in the pole against the Spurs, handling himself well with some nice, non-dribbling turns and some slippery errors. The less dribbling for Porzingis is the best and he makes his innings against the smaller Spurs defenders without a lot of wasted moves. He was assertive and confident.
For the season, Porzingis is now shooting 10-out-20 on post-ups, a much larger number than a season ago, although it is still very early. The key for Porzingis to use the pole appears to be as long as it comes within the flow of the Mavericks offense, while a smaller defender does not waste Porzingis time. He looked good against the Spurs and scored 21 points on 14 shots.