The Dallas Mavericks know they have to ramp up their production while key teammates recover from injuries.
Dallas kicked off their five-game road trip with a narrow victory, edging out New Orleans 137-136 on Wednesday. They continue their journey with a visit to Detroit on Friday.
Frontcourt starters P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford were pivotal, as the Mavs scored 80 points in the second half to barely secure the win. Washington contributed 25 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, while Gafford went a perfect nine-for-nine from the field, tallying 22 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, and three assists.
Superstar guard Luka Doncic has been sidelined since Christmas with a calf injury, and the Mavs’ frontcourt has taken additional hits with Dereck Lively II (ankle), Maxi Kleber (foot), and Dwight Powell (hip) all on the mend.
Kyrie Irving added 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists against the Pelicans. The Mavs will face Detroit for the first time this season.
Friday’s game marks the beginning of a season-high six-game homestand for the Pistons. They are coming off a five-game road trip where they won the first two games but then lost three straight.
Their latest defeat occurred on Wednesday, falling to Indiana 133-119.
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr., and coach J.B. Bickerstaff received technical fouls, and backup center Isaiah Stewart was ejected for a flagrant foul.
Bickerstaff views these incidents as a sign of the team’s passion and improvement.
Cunningham did his best to keep his team competitive, scoring 32 points and dishing out nine assists. He has averaged 26.8 points and 8.7 assists this month.
