The Mavericks are off to a fast start from Kyrie Irving and a blowout win over the Bulls

Playing without starter PJ Washington and center Dereck Lively II, the Dallas Mavericks faced Chicago on Wednesday night with the prospect of their first two-game losing streak of the young season and their five-game home record getting even worse.

Unlike two nights earlier against Indiana, however, center Daniel Gafford showed his inside presence and the Mavericks imposed their will early and often, earning a 119-99 victory at American Airlines Center.

Kyrie Irving made his first six shot attempts and scored 15 of his 17 points during the opening 6:39. Luka Doncic had 27 points, 13 assists and 7 rebounds and Dallas limited Chicago to 39% shooting in the first half.

Gafford? After playing just 15 ineffective minutes on Monday and being forced off the field by Indiana’s five-out offense, he responded on Wednesday with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.

“We have a really great basketball team,” coach Jason Kidd said. “At the moment we just have to find our rhythm.”

Even without Washington (right knee sprain) and Lively (right shoulder sprain), the Mavericks have staved off problems that plagued them earlier in the season, particularly committing excessive fouls and being slow in transition defense.

In fact, Dallas flipped the script by forcing 23 Chicago turnovers, allowing the Mavericks to dominate 28-13 in turnovers without points. The ball movement was crisp. Dallas finished the game with 33 assists and 45 field goals.

“A lot of guys touched the ball early and I thought the balance was good so they couldn’t rush us,” Kidd said. “I thought the movement of the ball really set the tone early on.”

Now Dallas (5-3) can finish this home opener with a 3-2 record by defeating Phoenix on Friday on ESPN. The Mavericks undoubtedly had even more ambitious plans down this stretch, but Wednesday’s performance was a welcome boost, especially with upcoming trips to Denver, Golden State and Utah.

Before Wednesday’s game, Kidd expressed concern that the game was similar to Monday’s, when Dallas fell shorthanded against Indiana because the Mavericks were stunned by the high-octane Pacers’ five-out offense as Myles Turner poured in 30 points.

It certainly helped Dallas that Zach LaVine, the Bulls’ leading scorer, was sidelined with a sore groin, but Chicago entered the night as the No. 1 team in the NBA against a Dallas team that was in transition 28th place was.

“If you think Indiana is fast, they are even faster,” Kidd said.

In the Indiana loss, Dallas fell behind 15-2 and Gafford was a minus-15 in just 4:45 of play in the first quarter. On Wednesday, he was a plus-10 with three in 7:29 of the first half points and three rebounds while also defending Nikola Vucevic, a player similar to Turner in his outside shooting abilities.

In a 65-second sequence in the first quarter, Doncic, Irving and Klay Thompson sank 3-pointers as part of a 13-0 run by the Mavericks that tied the game.

“With Doncic and Kyrie out there, it’s going to be really, really difficult because not only can these guys really score at an elite level, they’re very willing passers,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “And with a guy like Klay, he’s probably going to get a lot of those open looks from those guys.

“And listen: Klay has played on a lot of really great teams. He knows what it takes to win and he’s a consummate professional.”

Thompson scored 13 points on just 10 shot attempts on Wednesday, but his shooting skills weren’t in demand that night.

Kidd did not provide a timetable for Washington and Lively’s return. On the night, Dallas’ bench players contributed 36 points – but 35 of those came after halftime, including 27 in fourth-quarter stoppage time after the Mavericks had taken a 30-point lead.

“With the injuries we have right now, it gives other guys a chance to play and see what we have,” Kidd said. “And that will only make the team stronger in this marathon.”

Photos: Luka Doncic delivers 13 assists as Mavericks defeat Bulls

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