Luka Doncic buried a clutch 3-pointer late in Tuesday’s game to seal a 120-114 victory for the Dallas Mavericks against the Minnesota Timberwolves, helping Dallas sweep a tough early-season back-to-back. The Mavericks, who are set to play their third game in four nights, will host the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Dallas has shown that it can win without Doncic needing to be extraordinary from the start. Despite missing 17 of his 27 field-goal attempts, Doncic’s lone made 3-pointer came with 1:04 remaining, a 33-footer that iced the game. Kyrie Irving carried much of the load, especially in the third quarter, scoring 16 of his team-high 35 points. P.J. Washington added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Daniel Gafford chipped in with 14 points.
Doncic struggled in the back-to-back games against the Utah Jazz and the Timberwolves, shooting a combined 15-for-49 (30.6%) from the floor and 2-for-17 from three-point range. Nevertheless, the Mavericks’ timely defense and offensive depth led them to victory, a worrying sign for the rest of the NBA.
The Rockets head into the matchup with Dallas after a 106-101 win over in-state rivals the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Jalen Green was on fire, drilling seven 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 36 points. Green, tied for eighth in the NBA in scoring with 28.8 points per game, recently signed a three-year, $106 million contract extension with Houston.
Green has picked up where he left off last season, averaging 24 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists after February, leading a playoff push that fell just short. The 22-year-old has shown significant growth in exploiting defenses, no longer attacking the rim with reckless impatience. Drafted No. 2 overall by the Rockets in 2021, Green has benefitted from sharing the backcourt with veteran point guard Fred VanVleet. His development and understanding of his skill set have been crucial for Houston’s offensive strategy.
