In an “unflexed” game[note]Due to the Dallas Cowboys flexed game against the Bucs[/note], the Dallas Mavericks took on the Sacramento Kings for the second time in ten days. DeMarcus Cousins is always a tough matchup for the Mavericks, especially when he plays the 4 (power forward position) and unsurprisingly racked up 14 points in the first quarter.

 

What did come as a surprise was A.J. Hammons entering the game with 6:17 left in the first quarter. Hammons has barely played enough minutes to qualify for a complete game (49) and rarely ever sees playing time in the first half. Hammons finished the game 0-for-4 from the field with three rebounds and four fouls in almost 16 minutes, but Coach Carlisle saw some positives in what Hammons brought to the table.

 

“He’s doing a good job positionally, [as] another big body on Cousins. He’s worked hard, he’s kept himself ready, and he’s earned the opportunity to play some.”

 

Across the board the Mavericks shared the ball well, six Mavericks scored in double figures tonight, and Dorian Finney-Smith benefitted the most scoring a career-high[note]His career has only been this season but it counts[/note] 17 points. Coach Carlisle had glowing[note]In whatever way Carlisle can glow[/note] remarks about the undrafted rookie.

 

“[He’s] playing the game within his role, within his abilities, he’s knocking down open threes; driving the ball well, in transition he runs well and he’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing,” Carlisle said. “When he’s on the floor he really helps our defense and offensively he’s becoming more and more of a factor.”

 

The Mavericks also got a nice scoring punch off the bench from both Devin Harris and Seth Curry.

 

Harris notched double figures for the first time this season scoring a season-high 14 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds[note]Which was more than DeMarcus Cousins, numbers are fun[/note] in what Carlisle was “his minute number, 20 exactly.”  After the game Harris talked about his role on the team:

 

 

Curry scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists tonight against his former team. Carlisle was asked what he felt about Curry’s “aggressiveness against his former team” and responded, “you trying to start something?” and that Curry didn’t play any different than he normally plays.

 

Dorian Finney-Smith, Devin Harris, Seth Curry, and even AJ Hammons are role players on the Mavericks. Role players are what Mike Lombardi (in the football world) refers to as 50-50 players, half the time they’ll show up and do something productive and the other half of the time they will not. Tonight several of the Mavericks’ role players brought something to the table. Harrison Barnes and Wes Matthews only scored 15 points each and the Mavericks still secured the victory.

 

In a season where the Mavericks are inching farther and farther away from contention, it’s nearly impossible for their two best players to score 30 points combined and win. The Mavericks accomplished that tonight.