The Dallas Mavericks were finally able to put something in the win column for the season, showing fans they have something to build on.
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Toronto Raptors 139-129, giving them their first win of the NBA season.
The game was close until the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks brought in Cooper Flagg and then D’Angelo Russell to come away with the win.
After a tough start to the season with 0 wins and 2 losses, a win for the Mavericks would be a huge boost to locker room morale.
But what was different for the Mavericks tonight compared to the last two games they allowed a win?
In the season opener against the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks shot an incredible 37.3% from the field.
Things were slightly better against the Washington Wizards, with 43.2% of their attempts converted. However, it still wasn’t enough to achieve victory.
There was a noticeable difference in their efficiency tonight, going 50-85 from the field and making 58.8% of their shots.
Shooting near or above 50% from the field is very important for the Mavericks as it allows them to maximize their defense.
After the loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Jason Kidd said the Mavericks needed to pass the ball to solve problems and start winning.
There was definitely some validity to what Kidd said, considering they only had 20 and 23 assists in the first two games.
The Mavericks had 32 assists as a team, showing they are moving the ball much more smoothly, and there was a big improvement in that department tonight.
Another key factor in the Dallas Mavericks’ first two losses of the season was the scoring from the bench, which wasn’t great.
In the first game against the Spurs, the bench combined for just 29 points. The next game against the Wizards was similar, with only 28 points coming off the bench.
Going into tonight, it was clear that bench scoring was a big focus for the team, as the bench totaled 61 points, including 24 points from D’Angelo Russell.
If the Dallas Mavericks can continue to put up performances like this, they could turn things around in no time.