GAMEDAY Recap Mavs @ Pelicans 10-25-2022

Luka Doncic and the Mavs look to continue championship building habits. 

Looking to build on their dominate win over the Memphis Grizzlies the Mavs go up against a undermanned New Orleans Pelican team on the road. Will Luka and company take another step towards their ultimate goal ? Let's Find out.

The New Orleans Pelicans came into Tuesday nights game @ Smoothing King Center pretty banged up. With 3 of their 5 starters inactive due to injury. The New Orleans Pelicans lost their top two players as well as their home opener on Sunday night. On Monday, they announced that one -- All-Star forward Brandon Ingram -- has entered the concussion protocol.

Zion Williamson (bruised hip, sore back) has been ruled out for Tuesday night, Williamson fell hard to the court in the fourth quarter, a situation which Green said, "could have been much worse. Starting forward Herbert Jones is also out of tonights matchup.

First Half

Pelicans come out spirited behind home crowd.

The Dallas Mavericks have been making it a priority to start games stronger this season. "It's important to start good," Doncic said. "Last year, a couple games we didn't start good in the playoffs. That's why I want to improve that this year". To my surprise it was the Pelicans who came right out of the gate and hit the Mavs in the mouth (figuratively of course Draymond is still on the warriors). Lead by speedy point guard Jose Alvarado and journey man center Jonas Valanciunas. The Pelicans would dominate the first quarter ending the period shooting a sizzling hot 74% shooting from the field including 3 for 6 from three point land.

Luka would keep his team within 11 points at the end of the first quarter putting up 14pts 6reb and 3ast. There was very little chance the Pelicans could keep up the tremendous shooting so I felt good about the Mavericks heading into the second period.

Cashin' it 💰 pic.twitter.com/mOatIHq15X

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 26, 2022

2nd quarter

With Luka on the bench, the start of the 2nd quarters are going to be extremely important for these Dallas Mavericks. This unit is lead by Spencer Dinwiddie as the primary ball handler and new addition Christian Wood playing outside in  power forward. 

The Pels would come out still hot from the field with Ex Laker Larry Nance coming out and hitting a three to open up the quarter. Pushing the Pelican lead to 14. Wood would come back and answer with a 3 of his own keeping the Mavs within striking distance until Doncic came in at the 5:45 mark in the quarter. In-between quarters camera crew caught Luka clutching at his ankle on the bench. This is something to keep an eye on. 

A silver lining for New Orleans is they play tonight of Dyson Daniels who is filling in for his injuries teammates. A young athletic wing who can shoot the 3 and attack the rim. Daniels finished the game with 11 points on 4/5 shooting.

Dallas at this point in the game was shooting at 59% from the field and the Pelicans started to cool off at bit. Luka Doncic would bring the Mavs even with the Pelicans after a 10-0 run. Spencer Dinwiddie would take the ball to the rim strong and finishing with a And-1 layup. After trailing as much as 16 points in the first half the Mavs would only trail by 2 at the Half. Pelicans lead 66-64. I noticed after the buzzer Dallas superstar Luka was once again grabbing at the same ankle he was having trouble with early in the first.

Second Half

Mavericks start to settle in. 

 (Christian Wood shooting over Larry Nance.)

3rd quarter

The start of the second half would see both teams going back and fourth trading leads. Luka has continued his spirited play on both ends of the court, taking charges battling for boards in the paint and overall paying closer attention to the other side of the ball. 

Pelicans point guard Alvarado would continue to put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Mavericks offense. In addition to his 13pt 3reb 3ast performance, the feisty guard had 2 steals and made a impact on the game beyond the stat sheet. One of those steals lead to a transition bucket for second year Forward Trey Murphey III. 

Trey had himself a game and filled in some rather large shoes tonight left by NBA all star Brandon Ingram. Murphey lead all rookies last season in 3pt %. This game he had a coming out party. Trey went 8-8 from the field, going a perfect 4 from 4 from the 3point line.

Late in the third Luka would take a hard fall into the paint on a layup attempt and he landed on his elbow which he had been favoring the entire game. Luka would spilt the free throws and remain in the game. Doncic would pull the Mavs within 3 after a step back three pointer which gave him a running total of 33 points at this time in the game.

Christian Wood would come off the bench in the second half and continue his fantastic play on the season. Taking the ball inside on smaller defenders and continuing to shoot the three at a high clip off the pick and pop ran by either Doncic or Dinwiddie, Wood would keep the Mavs close and ultimately overtaking the lead 89-87 Mavericks headed into the final frame.

4th Quarter

Bad Habits die hard.

The fourth period would open up with Dallas Maverick veteran point guard drive down the lane and give the Mavs their largest lead of the game, going up 94-87. This was with Luka taking his regular rest at the beginning of both the 2nd and 4th quarters. The game looked like it would be fully in Dallas's control but veteran 2 guard CJ McCollum would take over midway through the fourth hitting on his signature dribble drive and floater over out stretched bigs. Followed up by a beautiful mid range step back jumper which would give the Pelicans a 98-97 lead. After a Jason Kidd timeout the Pelicans would continue to onslaught going on a 15 to 3 run putting the Pelicans up 6 points late in the fourth. 

Luka and the Mavs would battle back behind Max Kleber's fight for second chance points including his own big 3 assisted by Luka. The lead going back and fourth at this point 109-107 Mavericks.

The outcome would be in the balance with only a few seconds remaining in the game. With the Mavericks down 3 Luka decided to take the ball to the rim for an easy layup instead of going for the tie. Mavs down 1 point with 4 seconds left. The Mavericks would foul Devonte' Graham who would split the free throws giving Dallas a chance to either tie or win the game with a three. The Mavericks would come out of a time out running a designed play to get Luka Doncic the ball at the top of the key. Max Klebers screen did little to give Luka any space who had to catch the inbound near half court. Dribbling left into his trademarked step back three in which he has a handful of game winners in his young career. Unfortunately for Luka and the Mavs his three would fall far short barely skimming the front of the rim. Pelicans win 113-111.

On a night that should of honestly been a victory for the Mavs they come up short and fall to (1-2) on the season. The Pelicans move to (3-1) and show the tremendous amount of depth that they have. At this moment they look like the better team between the two and possibly a top 5 powerhouse in the west when healthy.

My Takeaways

• So far this Dallas team still has all of the flaws they had in their previous two runs. They don't consistently put out the effort necessary to be considered a great team.
• Luka has been horrible this season for three. Doncic finished with 37points 11rebs and 8 asts, but his shooting from the arc was atrocious. Luka went 2 of 13 from beyond the arc. The problem is late in games Luka almost exclusively relies on his shot from deep to either stop the opposing teams runs or like tonight win games. Not ideal.
• The bright spot on this Mavs team has remained the play from Spencer Dinwiddie who finished with 24pts and 5asts and Christian Wood who came off the bench with 23pts and 6rebs.
• I still have high hopes for this squad but they have to really look at themselves after this loss. Sure up some of the lackadaisical  possessions which lead to losing leads. Twice this season this Mavs team had a win in hand and let it slip out.

• As for the Pelicans I haven't seen too much tape on them. I know Zion and Ingram have the league ready to crown this team the new "it" squad.
• From what I saw tonight they are a really well coached competitive team with strengths at all positions.
• I feel like Jose Alvarado is who we Laker fans wish Patrick Beverly to be. He definitely has me inspired every time I watch him play.

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