Hawks Tear at Mavs' Playoff Hopes: 3 Big Factors in Overtime Loss
The Dallas Mavericks are scratching and clawing as they fight to squeeze into the 2023 NBA play-in tournament. However, the Atlanta Hawks' claws were the only ones that did damage on Sunday night in their 132-130 overtime win over Luka Doncic and company.
Offensively, the Mavericks received well-rounded contributions from their top scorers, but that is nothing new. On the defensive end, they let seven Hawks players score in double figures and everything having to do with offense for Atlanta worked to their advantage.
The star talent on the Mavericks has not led to wins, and tonight, there were things that aided their defeat. Here are three big things that led to Dallas losing its seventh game in eight tries.
Takes it, Makes it
The Mavs are 3-1 when opponents attempt 100 or more shots in a game. It's too bad they are 1-10 when opponents make 48 or more field goals. Yes, it was an overtime game, but Dallas could not contain the volume of shots that Atlanta put up, and more importantly, couldn't keep them from hitting the bottom of the net.
Dropping to 37-42 on the year – which secures Dallas' first losing season since Doncic's rookie year – the Mavs are now also 4-5 in overtime situations. It's been a coin flip in situations that have gone past regulation until tonight, and this time their 50-50 odds went the other way.
Chalk it Up to Bad Luck?
The foul call on Kyrie Irving with seconds left to play in overtime allowed Trae Young to ice the game with two free throws. While contact was made, that call may not have been a foul in years past. Destiny wrote a terrible plot point in the conclusion to the Mavericks' 2023 script.
"That last play was supposed to be a turnover or an offensive foul and I was headed the other way," Irving said. "I know those (NBA officials) are going to look back at that and (know they messed up)."
Nonetheless, Mavs fans were on the edges of their seats and fell off in despair. Irving ought not to be the scapegoat for Dallas' loss tonight as he balled out with 41 points on an efficient 16-27 shooting from the floor.
Aside from going cold from outside where he and Doncic were a combined 4-18 and the team 10-38, the Mavericks likely would not have even been in overtime without Irving.
Where to Go From Here?
Shaking up the rotation is on the table for coach Jason Kidd, although it might not do much good at this point anyway. Frank Ntilikina was a DNP tonight and is supposed to be one of the Mavericks' best defenders, especially with the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith. Does Kidd need to give him another try, or is the team's overall defense too far gone? With the Mavs' frontcourt situation being as bad as it has been, Markieff Morris is another option available for Kidd.
As a result of poor defense, the Mavs lost the steals battle 10-4 and the turnover battle 14-11. Also, Dallas let Saddiq Bey run wild with five offensive rebounds -- indicating a need for more attentiveness in boxing out.
Defense, grit, toughness and tenacity come from Ntilikina and Morris, and Dallas need a spark plug (or more) on defense if they'll have any chance at closing the one-game game gap between them and the No. 10 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.
Up Next
Dallas will enjoy a two-day layoff before they see the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. They will close out the final three games of the season at home, and have easier matchups against the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs following their clash with the Kings.
De'Aaron Fox is the most clutch player in the Association on the year and unless a blowout from the tip to the final horn, Dallas will have to lock in for all 48 minutes to get the edge and keep their play-in hopes alive.
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