Dallas Mavs HOT Reactions: Luka Doncic Torches Houston Rockets; Thoughts on Mark Cuban Majority Stake Sale
It has been a whirlwind for the Dallas Mavericks over the last 24 hours, as news broke about Mark Cuban selling a majority stake of the team to the casino tycoon Adelson family, and then that news was immediately followed by Luka Doncic putting up 41 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with zero turnovers in a 121-115 win over the Houston Rockets.
On today’s episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we cover all of this at length, trying to make sense of Cuban’s decision while also giving a full recap of the Mavs’ win that now has them sitting at third in the West with a 11-6 record.
Luka Doncic drives on Dillon Brooks.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Not only did Doncic put up 41 points with no turnovers, but he did so efficiently by shooting 15-29 from the field and breaking out of a personal mini-slump he had been in for the previous six games. Dallas improved to 3-0 when Doncic doesn’t turn the ball over.
Rookie center Dereck Lively II, who has been a godsend for the Mavs this season, returned from a one-game absence due to a back contusion he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers last week. Despite having some highly-questionable calls go against him early in the game, which led to him being in foul trouble, Lively finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 28 minutes while shooting 4-4 from the field.
“Being able to change shots [was impactful]. I thought he did an incredible job on the offensive boards, giving us second or third opportunities there,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said of Lively’s return.
“There in the fourth, rim-running, understanding a lot of teams will slow it down. We were talking about how we have to get our pace higher. Kai [Kyrie Irving] found him for an easy lob. Those things will go unnoticed of his hustle. And I thought he did a pretty good job defensively. [Alperen] Sengun is a very good player to have 31 points, but I thought he made him work. We missed him [Lively] the other day in L.A. I thought today he was really good, bounce back game, especially coming back from that injury.”
Lively is only 19 years old and still has a lot of room to grow going forward, but he has also become the most important Maverick not named Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving. The Mavs are 0-2 when Lively hasn’t been able to play this season.
Speaking of Irving, the eight-time All-Star started off slow with just five first-half points, but put up 22 in the second half and finished with 27 while shooting just 8-22 overall. Irving was a perfect 9-9 from the free-throw line, though, and he also dished out five assists — two of them being alley-oops to Lively.
You can watch and listen to the full segment below, and be sure to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you get your podcasts! You can also leave us a review on Apple Podcasts for a chance to win future giveaways.
