Luka Doncic stuffed the stat sheet for the Mavericks, that rack up 51 points in the third quarter

The celebrities were out in full force in Game 2 of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate as LeBron James and Luka Doncic placed on a show in the Dallas Mavericks’ 124-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Regardless of his best efforts, James might not aid the visiting Lakers hold onto their early lead, as the Mavericks blitzed them offensively during the third quarter. Dallas installed a historical 51 points, a Xmas Day record, which confirmed to be excessive for Los Angeles to overcome.

While Doncic will certainly get the mass of the headlines following his near triple-double performance of 32 points, nine rebounds and 9 aids, the Mavericks All-Star had a lot of aid on the offensive end as Christian Wood and also Tim Hardaway Jr. integrated for 56 points in the win. On the various other end of the spectrum, LeBron installed the sort of super star numbers we have actually expanded familiar with seeing over the years finishing with 38 factors, six rebounds as well as five assists however the rest of the Lakers’ roster did not offer him enough sustain to get the job done when driving.

With the win, Dallas improves to 18-16 on the season while Los Angeles falls to 13-20.

1. Mavericks explode in the third quarter to blow this game open

Points couldn’t worsen than what the Mavericks did in the very first half versus the Lakers. They fired 39.5 percent from the area and also 22.7 percent from 3-point variety, as well as fell back by 11 points to a Lakers team that was without Anthony Davis. Based on just how improperly points entered the very first two quarters, Dallas was bound to transform things around, yet nobody can’ve anticipated the 51-point outburst the Mavericks laid on the Lakers, utilizing a 20-5 run to rise 82-65 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

By the end of the third structure, Dallas depended on a 94-75 lead, and the 51 factors they completed was not only a Xmas Day record, as well as tied a Mavericks record for a lot of points in a single quarter, however it was also the acme total amount in a solitary quarter this season. It all took place many thanks to 9 threes, four of which came from Tim Hardaway Jr. who racked up 16 of his 26 factors in the 3rd quarter. Doncic also joined in on the third-quarter fun, scoring 13 of his 32 factors throughout those 12 mins, and also dispensing six helps at the same time.

It wasn’t as if the Mavericks were doing anything dramatically different stylistically in the third quarter, it was just as basic as men tearing down shots. That’s been the story for Dallas all season long. When this team obtains cooking from 3-point area, they’re difficult to defeat. The Mavericks produce the second-most wide-open threes this period, yet in regards to making them, they remain in the middle of the pack at 38.1 percent, which places 15th in the organization. The very first fifty percent was the version of the Mavericks that do not hit their wide-open appearances, while the 3rd quarter was a radical swing in the various other instructions with virtually every shot going in. It’s not lasting going forward, yet it’s a favorable indication that Dallas can and also transform things around in the center of a video game and also see players like Reggie Bullock, that have battled heavily, leave a depression.

2. LeBron James vs. everyone

We already recognized James was going to have to do it all for the Lakers to have a possibility in this video game, because without Davis on the flooring there isn’t much depth behind their 2 celebrities. Yet still, LeBron outscored the 4 various other Lakers starters who integrated for simply 32 points. Russell Westbrook tried his ideal to use some aid off the bench, going with 17 points, 5 rebounds as well as 4 assists, and also Austin Reaves had a peaceful 16 points, however when you have nothing else beginners score in double numbers you’re not mosting likely to win numerous games. Specifically when the team fires 32.1 percent from 3-point range, a long standing issue for the Lakers this season. L.A. ranks 26th in the organization in 3-point percentage, and they fired just a hair listed below their period standard, proving that once more this group frantically needs shooters to complete in the West. Also LeBron went 0 of 4 from deep, yet when he’s doing everything else on offense, that’s just a tiny blip on the radar.

There was some hope in the very first fifty percent, when the Lakers were shooting 53.5 percent from the field and sending double teams to Doncic every trip down the flooring, which required every other Mavericks player to set up points, which they battled to do. The Lakers worked up a 14-point lead on 2 different celebrations in the initial half, once Dallas started catching fire from deep out of halftime, L.A. just really did not have the tools to keep up.

It’s the most recent example for Lakers followers to make use of to reveal GM Rob Pelinka that this group needs to make one– or a number of moves– if they want any kind of chance to make the playoffs, or perhaps the play-in competition.

3. Christian Wood showing why he should remain in the starting lineup

For the sixth-straight game, Timber remained in the starting schedule for the Mavericks, and it was perhaps his best video game in a Mavericks attire. He do with 30 points, 8 rebounds, seven aids, four swipes and 2 blocks. It was a total performance on crime, and he also had several essential protective possessions, showing that he’s more than willing to place in the initiative on that particular end of the floor. Timber had 15 points at halftime, which was a prime reason the Lakers lead had not been larger than it currently was, and also he continued his solid play out of the break also.

It was the best timing for Timber to have such an amazing efficiency, offered he’s now qualified for a four-year, $77 million agreement expansion. Timber’s in the final year of his contract, as well as is set to end up being an unrestricted freelance this summer season, however if the Mavericks wish to maintain the big male past this period, signing him to an agreement currently may be the much better option, since if he continues to enhance the cost will only climb. As well as given just how things went with Jalen Brunson, where Dallas might’ve used him a contract expansion midseason however handed down the opportunity, just to lose him to the Knicks as an unrestricted freelance last summer, they may not desire that to happen again if their plan is to maintain Wood past this period.

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Resources: cbs sports

Last Updated: 26 December 2022