DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Mavericks (2-1) home opener tonight was a Texas battle against the neighboring Houston Rockets (1-3). The Mavs won their first home game of the season, 116-106 and moved to 2-1 on the season.
The answer tonight was the bench. All 15 active players played for the Mavericks tonight, the bench combined for 52 total points and was led by Reggie Bullock. Bullock had 16 points on the night and shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Tim Hardaway Jr. stated post game, “shooters shoot” in reference to Bullocks stellar performance tonight against the Rockets.
Head Coach Jason Kidd turned to the bench for some production after his starters were struggling in the first quarter and the bench did not disappoint. Eight players came off the bench for the Mavs in the first half and produced 28 points. It all started with the crowd favorite, Boban Marjanovic, who sparked the bench with energy after he scored seven points early in the first quarter to help Dallas stay within reach of the Rockets.
The Mavs went into the locker room down 60-57.
The biggest reason the Rockets went into the half up by three points was because of their three point shooting. Dallas defense gave up 11 three-pointers to the Rockets in the first half, while Dallas only had seven. The Rockets shot 44 percent from beyond the arc and Dallas only shot 28 percent.
Another big thing that the Mavs lacked in the first half was assists. J Kidd has expressed that he wants his team to share the ball and his offense did not have enough ball movement in the first half with only 12 total assists.
Dallas meant business when they came into the third quarter, they went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for the remainder of the game and held the Rockets to zero points scored in the first four minutes of play.
Reggie Bullock said post game, “When we lock in defensively the flow of our offense comes naturally.”
The Mavs went on to win the third quarter 34-28. Dallas’s largest lead was 11 points but the Rockets fought back and Dallas went into the fourth quarter only up five.
Kristaps Porzingis left midway through the third quarter with lower back tightness and did not return for the remainder of the game. He ended the night with 9 points and three rebounds.
The bench continued to do their thing in the fourth quarter, they combined for 52 total points in tonight’s game, while the starters combined for 64.
It was a team win tonight, every active Mavs player contributed to the first home win of the 2021-22 season.
Dallas will welcome the San Antonio Spurs this Thursday evening in American Airlines Center. Tip off is set for 7:30 PM CST.
KEY PLAYERS:
Luka Doncic led all scorers tonight with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Reggie Bullock led the bench tonight with 16 points and shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 points and two rebounds.
Jaylen Brunson had a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists.
Boban Marjanovic had 11 points and four rebounds.
