Yes, you read that headline correctly.
The Mavs dominated the Warriors. Not THOSE Warriors but it still counts, right?
In their third game in Las Vegas, Dallas beat Golden State 91-71, even without Dennis Smith Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, and Johnathan Motley, who Jamahl Mosley said postgame were all likely to be done for the rest of Summer League.
The Mavericks continued to run with the physicality and defensive mindset that they built in Sunday’s win against the Bucks.
“I thought it was a very good overall performance. I was just really, really impressed on our ability to play hard and to sustain the level that we did,” coach Mosley said about the impressive victory.
Replacing the scoring punch left behind by DSJ, Finney-Smith, and Mot in the starting lineup was Phil Greene. Greene, the 25-year old from St. John’s, scored 16 points on 4-8 shooting from downtown after only playing two minutes in the first two games.
“Phil Greene, he can score. He can flat out score but there’s so many other things he did. He picked up full court, he got into the basketball; he’s falling right in line with how our system goes,” Mosley said of Greene’s performance.
Mitchell Creek also got thrown into the starting lineup and finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. In Smith Jr.’s absence, Jalen Brunson ran the offense well, scoring nine points and dishing out eight assists.
No-look dime from @jalenbrunson1! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0v0zQFIcLG
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 10, 2018
“I think it’s getting better. Adjusting still, but I think I’m coming into every day with a clear mind and it’s only up from here,” Brunson said on his recent struggles shooting the ball. “It’s fine, honestly because I know eventually they’ll fall. A little mechanical things and just get my technique right but I’m still playing hard and getting my teammates involved.”
“I’ve learned a lot of things. Just seeing the pace he plays with, especially at this level. I think I’ve been able to play with a great pace my whole life but once you actually get the experience, it’s a little different,” Brunson explained on what he’s learned so far from Dennis. “Just talk to him and really connect with him most importantly, trying to get some good chemistry going so we can move forward.”
Mavs fans even got to see some extended minutes from Kostas Antetokounmpo, who finished with four points, seven rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. With his All-Star brother, Giannis in attendance, Kostas put Abudushalamu Abudurexiti of the Warriors on skates with a nasty crossover late in the fourth quarter.
😱😱😱 @Kostas_ante13 pic.twitter.com/uXZHxSFcat
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 10, 2018
On top of the Mavs getting their second win of Summer League, Dallas received an even bigger victory when Luka Doncic finally was able to put pen to paper and officially become a Dallas Maverick. Now, for those asking, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Luka will jump straight into Summer League action and Mosley spoke on that postgame.
“That’s one of those things. He’s got to get a practice under his belt. He hasn’t gone 5-on-5 with our guys for the most part so that’s going to be something we’ll have to look at with practices to see how that goes.”
The Mavericks will have today off as the final set of games are played before the double-elimination tournament is seeded.
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