Dante Exum Has Career Night in Dallas Mavs' Thrilling Win Over Los Angeles Lakers: 'Left Me Wide-Open'
Despite the Dallas Mavericks being severely shorthanded lately with several key players out – including star point guard Kyrie Irving – they've been able to string together four wins for the first time since they started the season 4-0.
A lot of that is due to the MVP-level play of four-time All-NBA First Teamer Luka Doncic, who is averaging 35.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks in December. However, 28-year-old Dante Exum, who returned to the NBA this season after playing overseas for the previous two years, has had a say in the Mavs' recent uptick as well.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
During the Mavs' thrilling 127-125 win over the hot Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Exum put up a season-high 26 points and a career-high seven made 3s while shooting 8-10 from the field. He also had four rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 36 minutes as starter. For context, Exum, who is known more for his tenacious defense, had only hit eight 3s all season before hitting seven against the Lakers alone.
“Tonight, they kind of left me wide-open. Those are the shots I have to keep shooting if they’re going to play me like that," Exum said after the win. "I’m a driver, but if they’re going to stand three feet off me, I’m going to shoot it. So I like to get in the paint and cause defenses to collapse and kick out to the open guy. But obviously, I’m going to do whatever the defense gives me.”
After signing Exum to a veteran minimum deal over the offseason, the Mavs appear to have come away with a major steal. Over his last three games, Exum is averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Mavs are also 4-0 whenever he starts.
The Mavs are now 15-8 on the season, good for third-place in the Western Conference standings. It's the best start to a season during the Jason Kidd coaching era, and Dallas is seven games over .500 – something that didn't happen all of last season.
“Luka has to lead the league in double-teams," Kidd said. "He was double teamed for the majority of the game. And his trust with his teammates, if it’s not [Tim Hardaway Jr.], it’s Exum and then the next guy. He trusts that the guy’s going to make the right play. Tonight, Exum was the one he was looking for.”
A lot can happen over the course of an 82-game season, but Exum has been a true revelation for the Mavs. If he keeps up this pace, the Mavs are going to elevate themselves to title-contender status, but he'll also be in for a massive pay raise on his next contract.
"Obviously, I'm feeling great,” Exum said. “Most importantly we got the win. We got up early and they fought back. We knew it was a back-to-back, it was a game we had to fight. They were coming off their tournament win. I think it was a good fighting game, back and forth."
