Anthony Davis performed solely 24 minutes in his long-delayed second sport with the Dallas Mavericks, however his presence helped the Mavericks’ protection. As did enjoying the Brooklyn Nets.
Davis did not waste any time getting concerned Monday night time, scoring the Mavericks’ first factors simply 18 seconds into the sport. He scored once more on the following Dallas possession and assisted Spencer Dinwiddie’s basket on the next one.
He completed with 12 factors, six rebounds, three assists, plus a block and a steal, capturing 6-for-9.
The Mavericks had been 14 factors higher than the Nets with AD on the courtroom of their 120-101 victory. With Davis beginning alongside Kai Jones, followers received a glimpse of the mega-sized frontcourt GM Nico Harrison envisioned after buying and selling Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis and Max Christie.
It was the Mavericks’ protection that stood out. The crew had the Twenty sixth-ranked protection since Davis suffered an adductor pressure Feb. 8, forward of solely 4 tanking groups.
Monday, the Mavericks held Brooklyn to 48 factors within the first half, solely the second time they’d saved an opponent beneath 50 earlier than halftime since Davis was injured.
That is what the Mavericks might want to make the play-in match, for the reason that Doncic commerce and Kyrie Irving’s season-ending harm have enormously hampered the Mavericks’ offense. The win moved them a half-game forward of the Phoenix Suns for tenth place within the West. Phoenix is more healthy, nevertheless it additionally has the NBA’s toughest remaining schedule going ahead.
Davis might stay beneath a minutes restriction and will very properly sit out Tuesday’s back-to-back towards the New York Knicks, however his return provides the Mavericks an actual likelihood to compete once more — and provides his crew some faint hope in a disastrous season.
