12-31-2021, 08:49 PM
MAVS BID GOODBYE TO 2021 WITH BLOWOUT IN SACRAMENTO
The Mavs enter the last game of 2021 hoping to avenge Wednesday’s buzzer-beater loss. Dallas has ten players out — Luka, THJ, Maxi, Burke, McLaughlin, Boban, Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Willie, and Frankie (left thigh contusion). Reggie Bullock returns to action after two weeks off the court. Chriss and Pinson were signed to second 10-days after the last game. Derek Harper also returns to the broadcast.
The Mavs were successful in redeeming themselves, and went out on a high note!
GAME NOTES
Starting lineup Brunson-Bullock-DFS-KP-Powell
FIRST QUARTER
Both teams exchange baskets for a couple of minutes.
10-10 9:24
KP and DP on each other's dance cards here, with some cool connections. — Bagley jump hook over KP draws a Dallas timeout. Sac riding four threes and 61% shooting in the first half of the initial period.
15-22 5:51
Sac opens a 10-point lead with a Buddy Hield three. — Nifty Chriss-Sterling give-and-go results in free throws, Sterling hits one of two. Carlik Jones on, as the only active point guard on the roster aside from Brunson. Sac scoring at will in the paint, dang. — The dreaded Metu corner three strikes again. — A messy string of possessions by both teams featuring turnovers and a missed bunny ends with Green free throws. Sac follows that with a traveling turnover and Brunson hits the closing bucket.
34-39 after one
Not a lot of defense going on here. Sac shooting 60% (6-9 3PTA), Mavs hitting 54%. Sac is a fouling machine, and the Mavs have drawn 9 FTA.
SECOND QUARTER
Bullock looking good with a pull-up jumper and-one off a baseline cut. — Laser pass from Pinson to Green under the basket. — DFS ties the game with a corner three. — KP posts up and hits. — A 7-0 Sac run results in a Dallas timeout.
44-49 7:46
Mavs overpassing some in this game. They have an unforced shot clock violation here. SMH. — Brunson takes back the lead for Dallas. — Mavs on a 27-14 run.
56-53 3:15
Looks like Green is initiating the offense now. Hmm. Bullock tries a leaner on the move, airball.
62-56 HT
Mavs decisively won the second period 28-17. Reggie led the charge with a 9-point quarter.
As far as the game as a whole, we’ve got a pillow fight on our hands, with offense featuring heavily on the night. Both teams shooting at least 50%, and 40%+ from three. KP (12), Bullock (12), and JB (11) are already in double digits, as are Haliburton (14) and Fox (10) for the Kings. Mavs have a 14-7 advantage in FTA. KP with a well-rounded 12-5-4 line.
THIRD QUARTER
Haliburton ties the game with a three, with the Kings making a little push after Mavs built an 8-point advantage.
67-67 9:18
Mavs 8-0 surge brings on a plea for time from Gentry.
75-67 6:58
Powell with three slams in a row. — He dunks again, for four! DFS with another corner three. Mavs running away with it here, 15-2.
82-69 5:26
Make that 18-2. Sac looking rattled here, sails one out-of bounds for a turnover. — Brunson hits, now it’s 20-2. — KP free throws make it 22-2. — Green to Chriss, 24-2. It’s all Dallas here, folks.
91-69 2:43
Mavs give JB and KP a simultaneous rest. Briefly.
94-76 after three
Mavs win the third 32-20. They have ratcheted up their defense, and it’s really paying off. The Kings look they’re already rarin’ to go knock back some bubbly.
FOURTH QUARTER
Damion Mitchell teed up, supposedly for a second delay of game after a made basket. The home crowd not a fan of the call. — Mavs start the period a tad sloppy, looks like they’re settling down now.
104-85 6:33
Kings looking completely discombobulated and seem to be losing interest by the minute. I’m calling this one now.
112-96 FT
OBSERVATIONS
Player Notes
KP is a candidate for Player of the Game with a team-leading 24 points, along with 9 boards and 6 assists. He was fearsome offensively, hitting 8-12 and drawing a game-high 7 FTA. Brunson would also be in the running with 23-5-8, on 11-19 shooting. DFS showed off his playmaking skills with 12 points and 6 assists. Bullock looked to have recovered his shooting touch with 5-8 buckets for 16 points, including going 3-5 from range. Powell had 13 points and 7 boards, and conducted his own demoralizing mini-run, scoring four consecutive dunks in the third quarter!
The bench had 24 points, shared equally among Sterling, Green, and Chriss. The ten-days played a combined 35 minutes, including garbage time, distributed among Chriss (18), Pinson (8), Jones (5), and Brown and King with 2 each. Chriss impressed inside with 8 points, 7 boards, and a block.
Kidd
Thinks the defense was very good in both this game and the last. Ball movement is keeping everyone touching the rock and feeling engaged. KP was big on both ends of the court. Reggie was able to play 30 minutes, which was more than they had scheduled him for. Looked fresh, made shots, got to the basket, and continued to play good defense. Kidd hopes this is the break he needed.
Loved the defensive display in the second half, along with the all-around games by the starters. The Kings looked like they ran out of gas about halfway through the game and limped along on fumes for the rest of the contest. But, it matters not, the victory is just as big in the win column as if the match were an intergalactic clash of the titans.
Mavs are almost back to .500 (17-18), and are up to 5-9 without Luka. One step at a time.
Great to have this feel-good end to a very challenging year.
NEXT. The Mavs will begin 2022 finishing up their road trip in OKC.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FELLOW MFFLS!!
Hope it’s the best ever for all the great board contributors!
The Mavs enter the last game of 2021 hoping to avenge Wednesday’s buzzer-beater loss. Dallas has ten players out — Luka, THJ, Maxi, Burke, McLaughlin, Boban, Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Willie, and Frankie (left thigh contusion). Reggie Bullock returns to action after two weeks off the court. Chriss and Pinson were signed to second 10-days after the last game. Derek Harper also returns to the broadcast.
The Mavs were successful in redeeming themselves, and went out on a high note!
GAME NOTES
Starting lineup Brunson-Bullock-DFS-KP-Powell
FIRST QUARTER
Both teams exchange baskets for a couple of minutes.
10-10 9:24
KP and DP on each other's dance cards here, with some cool connections. — Bagley jump hook over KP draws a Dallas timeout. Sac riding four threes and 61% shooting in the first half of the initial period.
15-22 5:51
Sac opens a 10-point lead with a Buddy Hield three. — Nifty Chriss-Sterling give-and-go results in free throws, Sterling hits one of two. Carlik Jones on, as the only active point guard on the roster aside from Brunson. Sac scoring at will in the paint, dang. — The dreaded Metu corner three strikes again. — A messy string of possessions by both teams featuring turnovers and a missed bunny ends with Green free throws. Sac follows that with a traveling turnover and Brunson hits the closing bucket.
34-39 after one
Not a lot of defense going on here. Sac shooting 60% (6-9 3PTA), Mavs hitting 54%. Sac is a fouling machine, and the Mavs have drawn 9 FTA.
SECOND QUARTER
Bullock looking good with a pull-up jumper and-one off a baseline cut. — Laser pass from Pinson to Green under the basket. — DFS ties the game with a corner three. — KP posts up and hits. — A 7-0 Sac run results in a Dallas timeout.
44-49 7:46
Mavs overpassing some in this game. They have an unforced shot clock violation here. SMH. — Brunson takes back the lead for Dallas. — Mavs on a 27-14 run.
56-53 3:15
Looks like Green is initiating the offense now. Hmm. Bullock tries a leaner on the move, airball.
62-56 HT
Mavs decisively won the second period 28-17. Reggie led the charge with a 9-point quarter.
As far as the game as a whole, we’ve got a pillow fight on our hands, with offense featuring heavily on the night. Both teams shooting at least 50%, and 40%+ from three. KP (12), Bullock (12), and JB (11) are already in double digits, as are Haliburton (14) and Fox (10) for the Kings. Mavs have a 14-7 advantage in FTA. KP with a well-rounded 12-5-4 line.
THIRD QUARTER
Haliburton ties the game with a three, with the Kings making a little push after Mavs built an 8-point advantage.
67-67 9:18
Mavs 8-0 surge brings on a plea for time from Gentry.
75-67 6:58
Powell with three slams in a row. — He dunks again, for four! DFS with another corner three. Mavs running away with it here, 15-2.
82-69 5:26
Make that 18-2. Sac looking rattled here, sails one out-of bounds for a turnover. — Brunson hits, now it’s 20-2. — KP free throws make it 22-2. — Green to Chriss, 24-2. It’s all Dallas here, folks.
91-69 2:43
Mavs give JB and KP a simultaneous rest. Briefly.
94-76 after three
Mavs win the third 32-20. They have ratcheted up their defense, and it’s really paying off. The Kings look they’re already rarin’ to go knock back some bubbly.
FOURTH QUARTER
Damion Mitchell teed up, supposedly for a second delay of game after a made basket. The home crowd not a fan of the call. — Mavs start the period a tad sloppy, looks like they’re settling down now.
104-85 6:33
Kings looking completely discombobulated and seem to be losing interest by the minute. I’m calling this one now.
112-96 FT
OBSERVATIONS
Player Notes
KP is a candidate for Player of the Game with a team-leading 24 points, along with 9 boards and 6 assists. He was fearsome offensively, hitting 8-12 and drawing a game-high 7 FTA. Brunson would also be in the running with 23-5-8, on 11-19 shooting. DFS showed off his playmaking skills with 12 points and 6 assists. Bullock looked to have recovered his shooting touch with 5-8 buckets for 16 points, including going 3-5 from range. Powell had 13 points and 7 boards, and conducted his own demoralizing mini-run, scoring four consecutive dunks in the third quarter!
The bench had 24 points, shared equally among Sterling, Green, and Chriss. The ten-days played a combined 35 minutes, including garbage time, distributed among Chriss (18), Pinson (8), Jones (5), and Brown and King with 2 each. Chriss impressed inside with 8 points, 7 boards, and a block.
Kidd
Thinks the defense was very good in both this game and the last. Ball movement is keeping everyone touching the rock and feeling engaged. KP was big on both ends of the court. Reggie was able to play 30 minutes, which was more than they had scheduled him for. Looked fresh, made shots, got to the basket, and continued to play good defense. Kidd hopes this is the break he needed.
Loved the defensive display in the second half, along with the all-around games by the starters. The Kings looked like they ran out of gas about halfway through the game and limped along on fumes for the rest of the contest. But, it matters not, the victory is just as big in the win column as if the match were an intergalactic clash of the titans.
Mavs are almost back to .500 (17-18), and are up to 5-9 without Luka. One step at a time.
Great to have this feel-good end to a very challenging year.
NEXT. The Mavs will begin 2022 finishing up their road trip in OKC.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, FELLOW MFFLS!!
Hope it’s the best ever for all the great board contributors!