Mavs Blow Out LeBron's Lakers Without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving: 3 Big Takeaways
The undermanned Dallas Mavericks snapped a five-game losing streak by blowing out the Los Angeles Lakers 118-97 on Tuesday night. Was this the best win of the season so far?
After enduring five grueling losses in a row, the Dallas Mavericks (21-16) finally got back on track on Tuesday night with a 118-97 blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers (20-16) at American Airlines Center. With the win, the Mavs leapfrogged the Lakers into the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference Standings. Let’s talk about the three biggest takeaways from this one.
Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Role Players Stepping Up
Before Tuesday’s game, the Mavs had lost their last 10 games that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving didn’t play in. Dallas was also playing without valued big man Daniel Gafford. When you’re missing more than 60 points per game combined from that trio, that means others have to step up, and that’s precisely what happened.
Quentin Grimes, who is hoping to receive a new, lucrative contract in the offseason, led the Mavs with 23 points off the bench, hitting 6-11 from 3-point range. He also finished with nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, and, most importantly, zero turnovers. P.J. Washington also upped his game, finishing with 22 points on 9-14 shooting overall and a perfect 3-3 from deep to go with eight rebounds and one steal. Spencer Dinwiddie (19), Jaden Hardy (15), and Klay Thompson (13) were the other three Mavericks to score in double figures.
Containing Lakers’ Stars
Given how shorthanded the Mavs were, it would’ve been reasonable to expect Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to have massive scoring nights. However, Dallas’ collective defensive effort was enough to at least contain those two players’ production. James finished with just 18 points on 6-12 shooting overall, and Davis led the Lakers with 21 points on 7-18 shooting. Despite Gafford being out, the Mavs’ center tandem of Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber gave Davis trouble throughout the night.
“Maxi (Kleber) isn’t going to get talked about,” said Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, “but I thought he did an incredible job of boxing out, being able to be physical.”
No one can ever truly shut down two players of James and Davis’ caliber, but the undermanned Mavs did about as good of a job as anyone could’ve hoped in what was arguably the team’s most impressive win of the season so far.
P.J. Washington’s Growing Leadership
After the game, Kidd and Grimes explained how Washington was the catalyst for the Mavs breaking through and getting a big win over the Lakers.
“Give this group some time,” Kidd said when asked about what Washington’s message to the team was. “This is a new group. A lot of injuries. We’re learning each other, we’re asking guys to change their role.
“Guys have been in a positive state, the energy is great. We believe every time that we take the floor that we can win, but also knowing sometimes you don’t, but can you learn from that. It’s a long season, so I give P.J. a lot of credit for that voice in that locker room right now of keeping guys together.”
Grimes added: “He came out and just let us know, everybody play their game. Go out there, have fun, and take it one game at a time. Play for each other, play as a team. I feel like P.J. did a good job of bringing us together for sure before the game.”
Although the Mavs have been through a tough stretch due to injuries and suspensions, that adversity could pay dividends later this season when the roster becomes fully healthy again. Guys are learning to expand their roles and build chemistry with one another without Doncic or Irving playing, and that could play into the Mavs’ favor come playoff time.
Stay tuned to Mavs Step Back for more Mavs/Lakers analysis on our podcast later today! Newsletter subscribers will get early access to all of our podcast episodes going forward.