3 more observations after the Mavericks defeated the Clippers on Friday night



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It was an energetic night at the American Airlines Center, and for good reason (albeit a preseason game).

Dallas duo shine

To kick off the evening, star duo Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis were aggressive at both ends of the pitch. KP made his presence felt in the painting by getting two first blocks. Moments later, a quick out pass to Doncic after a steal from Porzingis led to an easy rebound pass to Porzingis who slammed him home to cap the quick break. In the second quarter, Doncic put Porzingis in place with an easy pick-and-pop three that got the crowd on their feet. Porzingis looked fully engaged at both ends of the floor which opened things up for the other guys.

I love the way Luka always seems to have his eyes on Porzinigs. They performed well, showing once again that both of their offensive skills can be demonstrated on offense at the same time. There were lots of high fives, nods and pointed fingers showing appreciation for each other on the floor. You must be excited that their chemistry is only getting stronger.

Starters fill in the gaps

Tim Hardaway Jr. had eight quiet points, while managing to finish with a more than 14 in 16 minutes. He continues to be a threat when he’s on the pitch, but with the dynamic Dallas duo firing on all cylinders, there was no reason to look elsewhere for offensive production. Dwight Powell also had a solid first outing with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal, finishing with a plus 9. He showed his explosiveness on several occasions, which was a good sign after last season where he always seemed to be recovering. of his Achilles. injury.

New kids on the blocks

Eugene Omoruyi put in another remarkable performance with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 22 minutes. He continues to gain more Mavs fans with his effort and confidence on the pitch. Carlik Jones also looked promising as he shows his ability to maximize the opportunities available to him. His shot selection is good, he plays at a very controlled pace for a rookie, and he does the right readings as a playmaker. Frank Ntilikina recorded his first few minutes as a Maverick, and I liked what I saw. He was a devastating defense and won a few “oohs” from the crowd as he finished the third quarter with a Euro-average pitch.

The Mavs head to the road to end their preseason schedule with two final clashes. The first will be the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, October 13e followed by Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, October 15e. The regular season is fast approaching and the sentiment around this team continues to strengthen. Dallas’ regular season opener slated for Oct. 21st against the Atlanta Hawks, where we’ll finally see what this group looks like when it really matters.

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