Luka Doncic ‘Chirps Back’ at Pistons: 4 Big Takeaways From Mavs Win
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The Dallas Mavericks (27-25) got a much-needed victory on Monday night against the Detroit Pistons, 111-105, led by Luka Doncic's 53-point performance in his return from what was essentially a two-game absence.
Despite 27 first-half points from Doncic, including 24 in the first quarter, Detroit held a four-point halftime lead over the Mavericks before jumping out to an 11-point advantage in the third quarter.
Dallas cut Detroit's double-digit lead down to just one heading into the fourth, where the Mavs outscored the Pistons 28-21 — including 10 points from Spencer Dinwiddie to help push Dallas to victory.
Doncic's 53 points came on 17-24 shooting from the floor with eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Here are the 3 big takeaways from Dallas' win over Detroit.
'Please Send Help' Mural Valid?
Let's be real — No. 77 does need help.
Doncic's 53 points accounted for 47.7 percent of Dallas' points against the lowly Pistons.
Dinwiddie, who averaged 35.5 points in Doncic's two-game absence, was the only other Maverick in double-figures, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-16 from the field.
Christian Wood is still out dealing with his finger injury, but despite the victory, having only one other player score in double-figures is an issue.
Sure, it's awesome to watch Doncic put up 50-point performances, but at what cost in the long run? This kind of basketball likely won't last when it comes to trying to win four-straight playoff series. Doncic looked fatigued in the Mavs’ Western Conference Finals series against the Golden State Warriors last year, and that was with Jalen Brunson on the roster.
Doncic's Two-Point Dominance
Doncic's fourth 50-point performance of the season just so happened to be his most efficient shooting game of the season as well, as he hit 70.8 percent of his 24 attempts from the field.
From inside the 3-point arc, Doncic made 12-13 shots as he dominated from two-point territory, which included attacking the cup with ease every chance he got. He also hit 14-18 from the free throw line.
“Somebody told me I was 12-13 from two,” said Doncic. “So probably I should have taken more 2’s than 3’s. But I think that’s efficient three shooting for me too.”
Doncic is shooting at career-high clips from the field, two-point range, and 3-point range while averaging a career-high 11.2 free throw attempts per game.
If Doncic can continue his aggressiveness attacking the basket, where he's most efficient, that'll not only create easy buckets for himself, but it will also open up good looks for his teammates on the outside.
Kidd’s Shortened Rotation
Mavs coach Jason Kidd lessened the minutes towards the back of the rotation on Monday while beefing up the minutes for Josh Green and Reggie Bullock, who both played 29 minutes off the bench.
Frank Ntilikina, who has consistently come off the bench before Jaden Hardy, didn't see the floor against Detroit, while the rookie played six minutes.
Once Wood and Kleber return to the lineup, the minutes for McGee, who played 10 minutes off the bench, and Bertans, who played eight minutes, will likely vanish.
If the trade deadline comes and goes and Dallas' roster stands pat, it'll be interesting to see how the minutes of Green and Hardy fluctuate without an added ballhandler and playmaker.
Doncic ‘Chirps Back’ at Pistons
One of these days, Mavs opponents will learn not to poke the bear that is Doncic. The Pistons were the latest group to make this mistake, as their bench ‘chirped’ at Doncic all night.
“Since the first quarter he was chirping,” said Doncic of a Pistons assistant coach. “You know I will chirp back. … From the first quarter he was chirping. I don’t want to say the words. I have no problem with that. It’s basketball. It gets me going for sure. I don’t have no problem with that.”
As many times as Doncic has said how much he loves trash talking, you’d think teams would avoid riling him up to an even higher level of play … alas, the Pistons made their bed and had to lay in it.
“Yeah. I do sometimes,” said Doncic when asked if he enjoyed trash talking. “It was their assistant coach. He started chirping in the first quarter. So, they didn’t like when I chirped back. They said to me ‘play basketball.’ If they’re going to chirp at me, I’m going to chirp back. I ain’t scared.”
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