DALLAS, TEXAS — The Mavericks are riding high after handing out two L’s to the Warriors and Timberwolves in their last two home games. Dallas is sitting at 3-2 in the month of February after going 7-9 through the month of January and have won two games consecutively for the first time since January 22nd. A big part of why the Mavericks are hitting their stride at the most opportune time is the full return of Kristaps Porzingis, and by “full” I mean zero limitations as to how many minutes he can play and his availability to play in back to backs.
Porzingis suggested late in the month of January that he believed if he was afforded more minutes and able to play in back to back games with no limitations it would be easier for him to get into a rhythm to help his team get back on track.
The last time KP was held out due to game restrictions was when his team faced the Suns at home back in late January, and since the limitations have been removed the Unicorn has set fire to the flame and the numbers prove that.
In the three games prior to having limitations removed Porzingis averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block per game. In the last 5 games that Porzingis has not been limited he averages 22.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game which are huge increases and has led to success on both ends of the floor for the Mavericks.
What has seemed to happen at a higher rate in the month of February in comparison to January is how often KP and Luka score 20+ points and how often that translates into victories. In the month of January, KP and Luka both scored 20+ points once and that was against the Spurs and in February they have done so 3 times in 5 games and the Mavericks are 2-1 during that span.
The ironic part is the last time Doncic and Porzingis scored 20+ points in the same game was the last time they won two consecutive games, which speaks to how valuable Porzingis involvement on offense truly is. Something else worth noting in the two games the Mavericks won when KP and Doncic scored 20+ points the Mavericks scored 70+ first half points in both of those games and shot well above 50% from the field and 40% from the three point line.
It seemed like all was lost for the Mavericks early in the season from the outside looking in, but the players understood that once they were back at full force they would be a force to be reckoned with. One of the biggest pieces to fall into place for all of this to work was for Kristaps Porzingis to come back healthy and get back to the level he was playing at in the bubble, and so far in the month of February he has not disappointed.
A healthy unicorn equals a better chance to win and right now the Mavericks need all the W’s they can afford to get back to the .500.
