The Dallas Mavericks got utterly destroyed by the Denver Nuggets 106-75. The team got off to yet another poor start and despite a couple of runs were not able to make up for it. The second night of a back to back in the altitude at Denver is always tough but the Mavericks have to play better. Here are the stats to know.
0: Number of threes made by Dorian Finney-Smith
The starting lineup has been a point of argument with many being upset that Dwight Powell is starting. Powell likely shouldn’t be starting but he hasn’t been the worst Mavericks starter thus far this season. Coach Jason Kidd asked for Finney-Smith to expand his game beyond simply knocking down wide open catch and shoot threes, the occasional offensive rebound and great defensive effort.
The early returns on that expansion have been abysmal. Finney-Smith is now 5-of-26 from three for the season after going 0-for-4 tonight. He is 14-of-46 from the field and even had four turnovers tonight.
This is not Finney-Smith’s fault. He is simply being asked to do more than he is capable of doing and he happens to be in a shooting slump. He will make more threes but the team has to quit asking him to do things he simply can’t do.
2: Number of Mavericks who scored in double digits
Luka Doncic scored an inefficient 16 points but until Trey Burke scored 11 points in garbage time, not a single other Maverick scored in double figures. Luka was not good tonight but the team absolutely did him no favors.
31: Points the Mavericks lost by
The Mavericks have played two good teams this year. In those games, the Mavericks have lost by a total of 57 points. It is too early to be too negative but the truth is the truth and this is not a good start. The Mavericks have to figure out how to do a better job of being competitive against good teams.
8: Number of steals for the Mavericks as a team
Even in the darkest of times there is always hope, so we end with a positive stat. The Mavericks did a good job of forcing a very good Denver team into 19 turnovers with 8 of those being steals.
Denver was simply the better team tonight and this Mavericks team will look for answers going forward. Hopefully the return of Kristaps Porzingis will provide some of those answers and with them, hope.
Here’s our lastest episode of Mavs Moneyball After Dark. If you’re unable to see the embed below, click here to be taken to the podcast directly. Or go to your favorite podcast app and search Mavs Moneyball Podcast.
