DALLAS — With the official transformation to spring comes the realization that the 2023-2024 NBA regular season is beginning its wind down. There are few games left for the Dallas Mavericks and even fewer marquee matches.
As Dallas improved their standing by rattling off six wins in their last seven games, and as they continue to build chemistry from their mid-season trade acquisitions, the time to showcase their top talent against the elite of the league, and see what the roster can accomplish in a playoff setting, is now.
That premise is what made the matchup to open the week against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets game so important for a Mavericks squad that had been searching for a signature win. With an opportunity to have a true measuring contest against a top Western Conference opponent, Dallas capitalized.
A playoff atmosphere filled the AAC on Sunday afternoon and gave the Mavs their proof of concept for a roster that had struggled against the league’s elite. Every loose ball was contested with vigor, and Dallas’ offensive stars were once again reinforced by the frontcourt running to the rim as well as fiercely protecting it. Threatening overtime, Jokic and fellow star Jamal Murray swung the pendulum to the road team’s favor twice in the final possessions, and the Dallas backcourt answered each time.
Kyrie Irving captured the win for Dallas on an insane 20 ft hook shot with his weak hand as time expired, one play after MVP candidate Luka Doncic had made a deep three to tie the game with seconds left in regulation.
The clutch 107-105 win over Denver was the team’s biggest of the season to date, and Dallas displayed its new identity in front of a national audience. The Kyrie and Luka superstar tandem made life miserable for Nuggets head coach Michael Malone the entire afternoon, and eventually, the defending champions had to shrug their shoulders and pay respects.
The Mavericks are no longer one-sided in their attempts to win. The Luka Show is always playing, but it’s also highly likely that Irving will be in his bag as a dynamic playmaker and shot creator. The desperation three-point heaves without better alternatives are now few and far between, and the Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford two-headed monster at center has been fruitful in providing the Dallas backcourt a competent rim runner to dump off to as they challenge double teams.
Are you letting Luka or Kyrie take it to the rim or can your center stop a lob or high-percentage field-goal as you swarm? It has truly been a pick-your-poison situation for the unfortunate defenders needing to make those decisions. The added gritty play of Gafford inside has also resulted in a positive change for the interior defense.
The win over Denver will forever be remembered for Kyrie hitting the Von Erich pose after the picturesque buzzerbeater, but the matchup was won on the boards, with Dallas’ 60 total rebounds eclipsing the Nuggets' total by 23.
Finally boasting a healthy rotation has allowed Dallas to cycle through the Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., and P.J. Washington trio of wing defense support. With being able to survive the streaky shooting of Tim Hardaway Jr. thanks to clutch performances from their depth, as well as the efficient shooting and strong rim protection from their bigs, Dallas is starting to put the puzzle pieces together.
Most recently, Dallas enjoyed a 113-107 win in San Antonio. It wasn’t as pretty as the season’s signature win versus Denver, but the Mavs took care of business when they needed to and reached 40 wins on the season with 13 games remaining.
Tuesday’s victory over the Spurs would have been a likely loss just weeks before, with Doncic having a below-average shooting night at 22% from the field. But Irving’s 28 points and Exum’s clutch three-pointers spelled the difference. Dallas is now benefiting from winning possessions all around, helping the team breathe when their star player isn’t superhuman on a rare off-night.
Even with the 6-of-27 shooting night in South Texas, Doncic remains averaging a near Triple-Double for the month, with 32.3 points, 10.6 assists, and 9.9 rebounds to date in March.
The week ahead couldn’t be more opportune, with Dallas primed to potentially overtake Sacramento for 6th position in the West, avoiding the play-in tournament and into a potential first-round matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Minnesota bigs plagued Dallas earlier this season, but are now without Karl Anthony-Towns for the remainder of their regular season. The final seeding is still weeks away, but for now, the Mavs will be seeing double, with their next four games two apiece against the Jazz and Kings. Utah has lost eight of ten and their top playmakers Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are nursing injuries.
After the Utah and Sacramento dates, the teams remaining on the Maverick schedule are all in 8th place or worse in their respective conference, with the lone exception being their regular season finale in Oklahoma City.
Passing the 50-win benchmark seemed unfathomable even a week ago, but the Mavs have rattled off a 6-1 run since their Eastern Conference skid that opened the month. Now, Dallas has seemingly found their winning formula as they head into the season’s final stretch.
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