The Dallas Mavericks showed a strong performance at the San Antonio Spurs and achieved a sovereign 123:10 victory. They could rely on their two stars. While Luka Doncic played a triple-double, Kristaps Porzingis showed his best performance of the season so far.
San Antonio Spurs (4-8) – Dallas Mavericks (8-4) 109:123 (BOXSCORE)
Both finished the game on 32 points with similar efficiency. While Porzingis (12/22 FG, 3/9 FG) added 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, Doncic (11/23 FG) added 15 assists (season high) and 12 rebounds. It was the 34th 20-point triple double for the Slovenian, which made him level with his head coach Jason Kidd (9th place all-time). Doncic also hit the three with a high percentage (6/13). This applied to the entire team, 40 percent from a distance (18/45) found their way through the trap.
The duo always received good support from Dorian Finney-Smith (15, 6/10 FG) and Jalen Brunson (17, 6/13 FG), while Tim Hardaway Jr. (5, 2/11 FG) caught a used day. The Mavs took great care of the ball (6 turnovers), scored well in the fast break (13: 5) and secured 10 offensive rebounds.
The Spurs, on the other hand, were able to build on their last good performances in front of their home crowd (119.8 points on average). They found no answer at all against the Mavs offense, so that their own good ratings (48.8 percent FG; 43.3 percent 3FG) didn’t help. While Devin Vassell was the best point collector from the bench (20, 6/11 FG), five other players scored double digits, including Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson (both 15).
Even before the tip-off, Mavs head coach Kidd said that the injured Maxi Kleber would probably only be updated on Monday and that he would not be available until then. Jakob Pöltl (Covid-19) was still missing from the Spurs. Compared to previous appearances – a clap with the Bulls (Dallas) and a clear win against the Kings (Spurs) – there were no changes in the starting fives.
Mavericks set themselves apart decisively in the third quarter
After just 103 seconds, there was a classic Popovich time-out, who did not agree with the defense against Porzingis at all. This was followed by a 7-0 run by the Spurs, who hit the three well, while the Mavs didn’t go out of the zone at all. Doncic broke the knot with a difficult threesome with a running shot clock, shortly thereafter, the Slovenian had another and a dream pass followed by Finney-Smith. Even with the reservists, Dallas stayed on the trigger (17-2 run), the Spurs succeeded very little. 31:22 after twelve minutes.
With an improved defense and a few hits from distance, the Spurs were able to quickly shorten it to -4 in the second quarter, the Mavs found an urgently needed answer with a Finney Smith threesome and a Doncic floater over the board. Porzingis unpacked two dunks and scored six points in a row for Dallas. So it was again +11 from Mavs point of view at the break (68:57) – because Porzingis hit from the middle line with the half-time siren!
Doncic and Porzingis are strong in San Antonio
In the third quarter, the Mavs’ offensive machinery ran at full speed, while the Spurs found no rhythm. After three minutes it was +16, again and again Doncic (he already had his triple-double) successfully moved into the zone, in case of doubt the rebound landed at Dallas.
The stars were even able to hold back, 8 points each from Finney-Smith and Brunson gave the Mavs a 25-point lead before the final section (102: 75). 6 partly devastating turnovers ensured that San Antonio was completely inferior despite almost 50 percent out of the field.
In the fourth quarter nothing burned from Mavs point of view, eight minutes before the end Johnson was able to shorten it to -20 and forced Kidd to take a break. But again Dallas responded optimally with five Doncic counters, from the corner he went back to +25. Like his Latvian team-mate, he cracked the 30-point mark with another triple 90 seconds before the end and was able to celebrate an easy victory at the Texan rival.
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