DALLAS, TEXAS — The Mavericks broke their 5 game losing streak at home defeating the Detroit Pistons 127-117.
Rick Carlisle said during a press conference the other day that “everything is on the table” and he is ready to do whatever it takes to get this team out of this rut with the season winding down and playoff positioning beginning to take shape.Tonight the first domino fell, and Dwight Powell filled the starting role Maxi Kleber once held. Powell’s energy in the past few games has been contagious throughout the ranks of this roster whenever he sees the floor. Kleber has served well at times in the starting role setting the tone by knocking down three pointers with ease, but a change had to be made and this is “Exhibit A” in this lineup testing phase.
Based on the Mavericks performance in the first quarter the move was lateral at best. However, Powell did hold his own filling in and scored on an alley oop that immediately pumped energy into Dallas’s veins.
The Mavericks started out aggressive and their effort and energy was there but their offense struggled at times leaving room for the Pistons to score and develop a lead. The Mavericks got things together and played the Pistons close to the chest. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to a great shooting performance in the first quarter converting 4 out of their 5 three point attempts and recording a 54% field goal percentage from the field. Doncic led all Mavericks scorers with 11 points and converted on 50% of his shots and knocked down 2 three pointers in the process. Despite the exceptionally efficient start, Dallas finished the first quarter trailing the Pistons 33-36 continuing their trend of facing a deficit entering the second quarter.
Dallas did everything right but the early stall they experienced in the first quarter was when the Pistons took advantage to open up a 7 point lead proving how crucial it is to set the proper tone.
The jolt the Mavericks experienced trickled into the second quarter and Dallas had their most efficient quarter in recent memory. Dallas finished the first quarter trailing by 3 but flipped their deficit to a 9 point lead at the end of the second quarter. Most of their success in the second quarter came by way of the Mavericks bench led by Jalen Brunson who finished the second quarter with 18 points, plus JJ Redick added 6 points off two three pointers. Dorian Finney-Smith converted on 2 of his three pointers proving how big of a threat he is from deep.
The intensity level the Mavericks were seeking finally appeared; albeit against a team that has a record of 18-40. To cap off the second quarter the Mavericks went on a run that was good enough to put them ahead of Detroit 67-57. Dallas finished the first half shooting 56% from the field and knocked down 9 out of their 22 shots from beyond the arc.
After a close to complete first half, the Mavericks were hindered by another stall on offense and it continued through most of the third quarter, but held the Pistons at bay despite their offensive struggles. Dallas finished the third quarter shooting 42% from the field but maintained because of how many times they went to the line and scored 10 out 11 free throws. In this case the Mavericks were granted great fortune because if this was a playoff team the Mavericks may have had some problems, but the collective effort is what was pushing this team closer to their first home victory in 5 games.
The lead the Mavericks developed and sustained paid off in the fourth quarter because although they had their worst shooting performance of the night they didn’t coast but applied pressure on the defensive end. The Pistons took advantage on the opposite end and got within 8 points of the lead which is the closest they had been the entire game, but Dallas continued to hold on and not give up a late game run. Kristaps Porzingis and Dorian Finney-Smith helped the Mavericks widen the gap in the fourth quarter and put the finishing touch on their first home win in 5 games.
The win tonight was one that helps in the playoff seeding, but the question still remains. How well will this team fare with the season on the line? They have many factors working against them like trying to figure things out in their starting line up and it tops the list in the priority. The Mavericks will find out answers to that question tomorrow and Saturday night against the visiting Lakers.
