Defensive-Minded Mavs Seek Fast, 'Physical' Start vs. Kings

The Dallas Mavericks' defense eventually clamped down on the Utah Jazz during the second final three quarters of Monday's win in Salt Lake City, but Luka Doncic, P.J. Washington and company hope to get off to a faster start against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday's second night of a back-to-back.

Sacramento Kings v Dallas Mavericks | Sam Hodde/GettyImages

Although the Dallas Mavericks secured their eighth win in nine games on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, they know they'll likely need to get off to a better defensive start in Tuesday's second night of a back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings.

After giving up 41 points to the Jazz, the Mavs' defense responded by tightening the clamps harder with each passing quarter. Dallas only gave up 25 points in the second quarter, 22 points in the third quarter, and 17 points in the decisive fourth quarter. The Mavs have proven that they can play high-level defense when fully engaged, and they'll look to bring a high level of aggressiveness to Sacramento for an important two-game mini-series that could decide which team avoids the NBA's Play-In Tournament.

Sacramento Kings v Dallas Mavericks | Sam Hodde/GettyImages

“We got to come out physical at the beginning of games,” said P.J. Washington, who finished Monday's win with 16 points, including two massive corner 3s in the fourth quarter. “They scored 41 in the first quarter. We can’t have that. But I feel like we did a great job on the defensive end the rest of the game. We just kept playing, got some stops and converted on the other end. I thought we did a great job in the second half.”

When it comes to overall team defense, it makes it a little easier to succeed when your star player is committed on that end of the floor. Luka Doncic has taken it up a notch in that department this season, and he has the Mavs in a spot where they control their own destiny for the No. 6 seed in the West as long as they keep winning games.

“It was great,” Doncic said of the Mavs' stellar defense in Utah. “The first quarter they scored 41. Then only 64 in the [(ast) three quarters. We should have started the game the way we played the last three quarters. We’re in a tough spot right now (in the standings). We’ve won (eight of nine). We just got to keep getting the wins.”

There will be no lack of motivation in Tuesday night's game against the Kings, as neither team wants their 82-game season to come down to one or two games in the Play-In Tournament. With both teams on a second night of a back-to-back, there will be no excuses in this one – just two high-quality teams playing high-quality, playoff-like basketball.

“I’m excited,” Washington said. “I can’t wait to go out there and play (the Kings). And I feel like everybody else is excited. We all know what’s at stake. It’s going to be a real exciting two games.”