Without Luka, Mavs are streaking!
The Dallas Mavericks won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 6 Monday night.
The most remarkable part about it? They’ve done it without their best player.
Luka Doncic was unavailable again with a right thigh injury but that didn’t stop the Mavericks from dominating the Philadelphia 76ers 122-102 at American Airlines Center.
The 76ers were without two of their best players, Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler, because of injuries, but they’re still fighting to keep the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Mavs, competing for the second-worst record in the Western Conference, weren’t fazed. After holding off the Thunder on Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City, Dallas trailed 32-27 after the first quarter but scored 41 points in the second to grab a 68-50 halftime lead.
Justin Jackson scored 24 points on 7 of 11 shooting to lead the Mavs. It’s his best scoring night since joining the Mavs in early February.
“I think we just had great movement,” Jackson said. “All of the guards were moving the ball into the paint and everyone else was just moving really well. I think that’s what we’ve been doing the past two games and hopefully that will continue.”
Five others scored double figures, including Trey Burke and Salah Mejri who each scored 16. Mejri led with 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 13 points and seven assists.
“We moved the ball great and drove it all night,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “When the ball is moving hot like that it tends to go in more. I thought it was Justin Jackson’s best game as a Maverick.”
And with Doncic out, it opens more minutes for Carlisle to assess his roster going into the off-season. Mejri tied a season-high with 24 minutes.
“It’s an opportunity for guys to show what they can do,” he said.
The Mavs have three home games left, including Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dirk Nowitzki, who is potentially playing the final games of his Hall of Fame career, had seven points and five rebounds in just over 17 minutes.
Although nothing official has been announced, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said fans won’t want to miss the home finale on April 9 when the team plans to honor Nowitzki.
This story was originally published April 1, 2019 at 10:16 PM.
