The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Detroit Pistons 127-117. It was another typical lackluster start for the Mavericks, while the Pistons jumped to a quick lead, led by Jerami Grant’s first 15-point lead and recorded 64%. Luka Doncic’s 11 points in the first quarter kept the Mavericks close, but the Pistons led 36-33 after one.
However, Dallas narrowed in the second quarter by throwing an area that stifled the Pistons to some extent. Their accuracy dropped to just 43% of their attempts, compared to 58% for the Mavericks. Led by Jalen Brunson’s strong quarter, the Mavericks finally found a pace to take a 67-58 lead in the half.
Dallas deployed the area to start the second half, but Detroit broke a few holes in the defensive armor, reducing the lead to four points in the middle of the third. The Mavericks absorbed the blow to extend the lead with one and maintain a 100-90 lead, heading into the fourth.
The Mavericks looked as if they had put the Pistons at the start of the fourth, but Detroit hung on forcing the Mavericks to play their horses until the final buzzer. The Pistons threatened the lead, reducing it by a few figures on several occasions, but the Mavericks retained behind Doncic the 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Here are some observations from the game:
Jalen Brunson stepped forward
When Rick Carlisle left the door open for a group change, a rational thought would have been Brunson inserted in the starting line. His first scoring style is getting worse with Doncic, and the Mavericks desperately need a scoring shot with the starters.
Although this thought did not materialize, Brunson still put his mark in the game before the first half ended. Entering the break, Brunson had 18 points (8 of 9) and scored nine consecutive points to give the Mavericks a pillow in the second quarter, after a slow start. It cooled in the second half, but not before the damage was done. Dallas looked embarrassingly sorry before Brunson stabilized the ship. He finished the game with 20 points on an 8-of-12 draw and offered the game sealing game about a minute to the end. With the Pistons forcing the ball out of Doncic’s hands, Brunson managed to attack and find the man open for one. It was indicative of Brunson’s all night.
Jerami Grant’s wrong problem sank the Pistons
Taking advantage of Dwight Powell in the starting lineup, Jerami Grant came out of the gates with 15 points in the first quarter. Dallas had no answer, and the Pistons controlled the first 12 minutes, with Grant on his way. In the second quarter, he took the third foul and settled for the majority, so Dallas took advantage. After trying eight shots in the first quarter, Grant failed to get a shot in both the second and third quarters.
The pistons crashed Grant off the floor, and thankfully the mavericks did what they had to do. When Grant found his rhythm again, the hill was too high to climb. We won’t think about the alternate universe in which Grant avoids picking up his third foul in the second.
Kristaps Porzingis was puzzled
His statistics are not horrible. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. He shot 6-of-13 and made two of his five triples. But he felt invisible and failed, picking up his fifth foul, contacting Josh Jackson in one shot. The climax came when he jumped on the passing lane, stole the ball and hit it at home during the break. But too often he felt like a spectator, and his defensive presence was especially lacking. The pistons did not face much resistance at the rim and that is why the Mavericks played so much in the area. Dallas needs Porzingis to evolve to the defensive end to be a threat, so hopefully he’ll be back soon.
Dallas returns to action Thursday night against the Lakers with a chance to gain ground in the standings.