MIAMI, FLORIDA — After losing their last game against the Kings on Sunday night; after a days rest the Mavericks found a way to beat the Heat in South Beach 127-113.
It’s hard to believe just under 10 years ago these two franchises faced each other in the finals and many things remain unchanged. Both teams still have the same owner, employ the same head coaches from their title match up but of course over time both teams identities have varied. The reality is, both teams are middle of the pack when it comes to the playoff standards and both teams’ chances of playing in the play-in tournament are alive and well.
The curtain is calling on this season and it’s best if the Mavericks final act went off without a hitch. Dallas split their last two games on the road destroying the Warriors in the bay and then following up with another loss to the Kings who they surprisingly lost the season series to. Plain and simple that is who the Mavericks have been all season, show up for the big games and then play down to their competition against the lesser talented teams.
Miami isn’t less talented than Dallas by any means but, the Mavericks started this game like they have done against the less talented opponents. The Heat started the game on a 14-3 run adding to the Mavericks streak of allowing their opponents to get ahead early. Trevor Ariza really lit it up from the field scoring 16 first quarter points and led the Heat to their fiery start. The rest of the work was split evenly between the rest of the starters. Duncan Robinson scored 6 points converting on 2 three pointers and Bam Adebayo scored 4 points but also found success distributing the ball notching 4 assists. The Heat outmatched the Mavericks efficiency shooting 68% from the field and with the nice cushion they secured all that was required was to continue to play at a high level.
If there was a first quarter MVP award it would go to Luka Doncic because of his efforts this season attempting to keep the Mavericks head above water. Doncic scored 11 points leading all Mavericks in scoring and the next leading scorer was Trey Burke who scored his first 5 points with not much time left in the first quarter. Dallas finished the first quarter trailing the Heat 39-30 but by the time the quarter ended the Mavericks shook off the jet lag. Dallas was extremely efficient once the offense got into gear and finished the first quarter shooting 60% from the field and connected on 3 three pointers.
The Heat maintained their 9 point gap for the opening minutes of the second quarter, but the Mavericks still found a way to attack and score the basketball to extinguish the Heat’s hopes of running away with this game. The Mavericks went on a 12-2 run to tie the game midway through the second quarter. It was like a tug of war match, Miami was trying their hardest not to let them back in the game, but Dallas kept pulling that rope and finally gained control of the game to take their first lead of the game after trailing for most of the first two quarters and carried a 63-54 lead into halftime.
Despite Dallas having to fight their way back into the game it wasn’t like the other games they trailed in. The Mavericks chances were much better because of the roll they got on the offensive side of the floor and their efficiency remained consistent, and that continued well into the third quarter.
The last time Tim Hardaway Jr played in a city his dad previously played in, he has performed very well and tonight was no different. THJ shot converted on 64% of his shots and connected 4 shots from beyond the arc to reach 10 three pointers scored in one game. Hardaway Jr contribution paved the way for the Mavericks to build a substantial 21 point lead by the end of the quarter. Dallas got deep in their bag and got great production from the other starters and their bench which really stabilized their lead finishing the third quarter with a 98-77 lead.
Jalen Brunson helped the Mavericks close up shop in Miami and scored 7 points leading the bench in scoring in the quarter and Josh Richardson found range scoring 10 points. Every player had a hand in their road win against the Heat and how efficient this offense was from the field was really the difference maker.
This win put the Mavericks back in a tie for the 5th seed with the Lakers. On their remaining schedule the Mavericks play only one team that is a shoe in for the NBA playoffs. The rest of them are either playing in the play-in tourney or not making the playoffs at all. Not a tough schedule ahead, but the teams who will likely play in the play-in tournament or aren’t making the playoffs, are always on the hunt for upsets at the end of the season.
Let’s just hope the Mavericks don’t become the hunted.
