The Dallas Mavericks hit the road to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, 116-108. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Thunder with 32 points and six assists. Josh Richardson was the highlight of Dallas at 27.
The Mavericks, losing Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis due to rest or some excuse, were knocked off the ground by an energetic Oklahoma City team. After swapping baskets early, the Mavericks left the field and Thunder took advantage. Energy resulted in six offensive rebounds for Oklahoma City, which turned into second chance points. At one point, Thunder played a line of players who had three years or less of experience and managed to extend the lead. Thunder leads 35-19 after one frame.
In the second quarter, it looked like things could balance out, as Thunder really hit the ball in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the famous defense of the recent Dallas games remained in Dallas for much of the period. The Mavericks took the lead repeatedly, reaching 11 and gaining momentum at the end of the quarter. But an offensive foul by Josh Richardson led to a Thunder three and Oklahoma City took control back. Dallas lost in half by 62-47.
Dallas started the third looking good again, reducing the Thunder lead to eight. Then, a series of twists and bad defenses resulted in Oklahoma City scoring at will and rebuilding the lead to 21 points. Of course, the Mavericks rose from the dead again, reducing the lead to 10. And, of course, Dallas lost those gains immediately because Trey Burke was at Gilgeous-Alexander, so Willie Cauley-Stein thought it was his turn to hit a three, so the leadership rose again to 17 in one minute. The Mavericks still lost 15 points in the last quarter, 89-74
The final period was, of course, the chaotic fever dream we all needed to end the night. The Mavericks had an incredible run in the final six minutes, closing what was a 19-point single-digit advantage of Thunder. This included a Dallas coach challenge that became a major foul on Richardson and a missed Oklahoma City challenge on a three-point foul by Tim Hardaway Jr. The Mavericks were terrible on the free-throw line, however, missing six in the fourth and eventually caught up with them when Thunder found an attack late to break the seal. After trying to catch up, the Mavericks ended up falling to Oklahoma City, 116-108.
Some thoughts:
The Dallas Mavericks’ arrogance never ceases to amaze
Understand that this is being written before listening to any of the post-game pressures, before any team narrative is transmitted and substantiated.
Make no mistake: the Mavericks think they are a much better team than their history currently shows. And maybe they are! Hell, I’m willing to give in here because it’s been a tough season. But look ahead at the schedule. The Nuggets, two Clipper games and two Portland games. Trying to look good and get a win over a fighting Thunder team was a mistake. It was probably a mistake to rest Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Between the All-Star game and the unscheduled hiatus due to the terrible winter weather in Texas, these Mavericks have had plenty of time off. Does anyone think Thunder has a chance if Luka Doncic plays this game? Throw your stars.
Rick Carlisle folds down
It wasn’t just the organizational decision to seat Doncic and Porzingis questionable, the end result of a nine-man rotation loss with just two minutes of rookie Josh Green looks absolutely insane in retrospect.
RPG players may need a little rest after playing serious minutes and losing to a Thunder squad that isn’t tanking, if you know what I mean.
This game was a double-digit match for most of the night, and although I understand that the Mavericks can and have recovered with the strength of the three-point shot, I can’t understand how the newbies didn’t get a single minute. It was a game of more than 15 points for significant stretches and Carlisle continued to launch Dwight Powell, James Johnson, Trey Burke and Willie Cauley-Stein. If there is time for newbies to get minutes, it is a game like tonight, when it looked like the Mavericks gave up the game at the end of the first period. Hell, they probably gave in before the complaint.
I understand that Josh Green doesn’t seem to be familiar with how to play basketball, actually, and at this point I feel good about him too, so I understand Carlisle’s reluctance. But playing Green or Tyler Bey can’t be any worse than what we’ve just witnessed for excerpts.
Make your free throws
My previous two points might never have been printed if veteran Dallas players could make their free throws. There were 10 losses in an eight-point game, including six in the fourth period. Nine of the ten came from Jalen Brunson, Josh Richardson and Tim Hardaway Jr. as well. It is not good.