After a big 110-93 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks traveled to Oklahoma City for a game against the Thunder. OKC had a halftime advantage as Dallas was on the second night of a back-to-back. Both teams were dealing with injuries, with OKC missing their entire center rotation and Alex Caruso, while Dallas was without Luka Doncic for the first time this year. The Mavericks played from the front for most of this fast-paced game, with Dallas taking the lead after each of the first three quarters. In the end it was just enough to come out on top with a huge 121-119 win. Let’s review what we saw.

PJ Washington: A+

27 points (7/13 FG) 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Our regular Thunder whisperer had another fantastic game against OKC, reigniting some of the magic he had in May’s second round playoff series. He took full advantage of this small OKC lineup. He was excellent at all levels of attack, hitting outside shots that opened up his drives for kicks and finishes. PJ was dominant in the post, which adds another level to what he does. You can also see what he adds on the defensive end, he does a good job of sticking around for a very fast OKC team. No notes, A+.

Kyrie Irving: A

23 points (9/18 FG), 6 assists, 1 rebound

Kyrie was passive early, as PJ Washington had it going, but in the second half Irving was able to deliver the goods for Dallas with excellent shooting down the stretch. For all that Dallas lacked without Doncic in this one, Irving provided the ball-handling and playmaking that Dallas so desperately needed. Considering his struggles with this team in the playoffs, his 23 points were huge.

Dereck Lively & Daniel Gafford: A-

Combined 17 points (7/14 FG), 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks

I thought both bigs played really well against this small lineup that OKC has to work with. Daniel Gafford contributed his seventh straight double-digit scoring, which is a career best. His double-double off the bench had an impact, just as it did against Spurs. Lively didn’t stop providing the statistical output that Gafford did, but his ability to play a central role in the post for assists and offensive creation was equally valuable. The big man tandem might be back!

Quentin Grimes: B

10 points (2/5 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Grimes didn’t shoot the ball particularly well here, but he’s exactly the type of player who needs to play to make his impact felt. He hit two big three-pointers off offensive rebounds, which are some of the most rebounding shots in the game. His drives were also good, yielding four free throw attempts. Overall, this match was nothing special, but it was a useful cog in an important team victory.

Klay Thompson: D

5 points (1/11 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block

Klay found himself struggling with the pitch again, connecting on his first jumper of the match but missing his next 10, including some excellent looks throughout the remainder of the match. But with a man with a history as rugged as his, I want Klay to shoot all the open looks he can get. Historically he’s at his worst early in the year, so hopefully he works his way into shape as he goes along.

Naji Marshall: B+

13 points (4/6 FG), 4 rebounds, 3 assists

I’m still deeply impressed by Naji’s playing skills. His shot was off to start the year, but his off-the-dribble play was strong enough to make up for it. The knife was also quite good defensively tonight. He gets hit for dribbling late in the game terribly sketchy! But once the shots start going, he becomes a real problem for teams. Even in its current state, Marshall has been everything we could have hoped for.

Jaden Hardy: A

13 points (6/9 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal

This was the best game Jaden Hardy has had this year, and he saved it for a great time as Dallas was short on players. His 13 points were efficient, shooting 66% from the floor on 9 attempts. His drives were strong, where he was able to finish three layups and force the defense’s hand. His 24 minutes were impressive.

Spencer Dinwiddie: B

10 points (3/7 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

I was critical of Dinwiddie to start the year, but this was one of his better performances of the season. His three-point shots were crucial, including one that forced an OKC timeout. I was still flabbergasted by some of the aimless drives he had, but if he can control himself there, maybe he could sneak back into the rotation.

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