Anthony Davis performed solely 24 minutes in his long-delayed second recreation with the Dallas Mavericks, however his presence helped the Mavericks’ protection. As did taking part in the Brooklyn Nets.
Davis did not waste any time getting concerned Monday evening, scoring the Mavericks’ first factors simply 18 seconds into the sport. He scored once more on the subsequent 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 court docket of their 120-101 victory. With Davis beginning alongside Kai Jones, followers acquired 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 workforce 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 event, for the reason that Doncic commerce and Kyrie Irving’s season-ending damage have vastly 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, but it surely additionally has the NBA’s hardest remaining schedule going ahead.
Davis might stay underneath a minutes restriction and will very properly sit out Tuesday’s back-to-back in opposition to the New York Knicks, however his return provides the Mavericks an actual probability to compete once more — and offers his workforce some faint hope in a disastrous season.
