The Dallas Mavericks continue to lose, this time in a 138-131 overtime thriller to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Darius Garland had a savant performance, pouring in 41 points and 11 assists. Kawhi Leonard also had a great performance, scoring 34 points on just 22 shots.
Advertisement
The Mavericks almost pulled off the upset, but were eventually overwhelmed by the more talented team.
Let’s get to the numbers.
50: Three-point percentage for the Clippers
The Clippers were absolutely red hot from three all game, and consistently relied on outside shooting to outpace the Mavericks.
Garland and Leonard combined to be 13-of-21 from three, and the duo made the same amount of threes as the entire Mavericks team combined.
This game is yet another showcase of why the Mavericks desperately need more three-point shooting next year.
+17: Ryan Nembhard’s plus, minus
Ryan Nembhard has quietly found a resurgence in the last couple of weeks. Nembhard had the best plus/minus on the team, and the offense flowed better with him on the court.
Advertisement
While he didn’t start in the game, he showed his value as a bench guard, as he had nine assists with no turnovers.
The Mavericks guard room will look much different next year, but Nembhard is showing that he cannot be forgotten when discussing next year’s team.
3.5: Cooper Flagg’s assist to turnover ratio
While Cooper Flagg did not have an efficient shooting night, his playmaking was great once again.
His jump shot has been woefully off since returning from injury, but the rest of his game has improved, and his impact hasn’t changed. Flagg’s passing and court vision have always been solid, but he has been at a different level since returning.
If the Mavericks are going to continue the Flagg at point guard plan, than his playmaking chops become even more important.