Player Grades: Mavericks vs. Bulls summary

The Dallas Mavericks found themselves in a shaky home situation heading into the day, having lost two of the first three games in the five-game set. With tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls and a rematch against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night still to come, things didn’t get any easier with key players Dereck Lively II and PJ Washington out. Despite an atypical lineup, the Mavericks were ready, led early on by Kyrie Irving. They built a healthy lead that grew as the game progressed. There was little cause for ill in this game as the Mavs got back in the win column. Let’s get to the notes!

Luka Doncic: A

27 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 4 steals

Luka looked good from the start of this game. With 7:24 minutes left in the game, he recorded almost exactly 32 minutes in which he caused all sorts of damage. His shooting percentage was slightly diminished by a few misses in the fourth quarter that were definitely unpunished fouls, and he had a glaring five turnovers, but each of his 13 assists seemed special, he had an astonishing 4 steals – one each , earned through attention and quick hands – and a ridiculous plus/minus of plus-35 to put all players ahead. He just seemed completely relaxed and in control of every aspect of the game.

Kyrie Irving: B+

17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

It was clear from the note that Irving intended to call the shots. He dropped 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first quarter alone. Two of those shots were nice steals that he used for layups the other way. He only scored two points the rest of the game, but shot an impressive 7 of 11 (63.6%) overall and really wasn’t needed much after that.

Klay Thompson: A

13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist

Thompson had a very nice game, although rather quiet. He shot 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 7 from three balls, a clear cut rate of 42.9%. He dealt his damage in just under 25 minutes, making his overall results and efficiency all the more remarkable.

Naji Marshall: B+

8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Marshall didn’t show the kind of play he had in the previous game, but he was solid and also picked up some bonus points for the things that don’t show up in the box score. His ball handling remains impressive, as does his passing. For a team just a few years removed from wingers who were ineffective dribblers, Marshall is a very welcome sight. He was 4 of 7 from the floor but missed his only three-pointers of the night.

Quentin Grimes: A-

7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Grimes gave exactly what you would expect from him in just 15 minutes of play. He was in the right spots, had a nice dunk, hit half of his shots and was very active on defense. His stats may not reflect everything he brought to the game, but it’s certainly in line with the level of production the team is looking to achieve and is buoyed by the fact that he grabbed the team’s second-most rebounds in the game.

Daniel Gafford: A-

17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks

Gafford had a balanced game even without Lively signing him. You probably can’t ask for much more than hitting 77.8% from the floor in just 23 minutes 17. Opposing center Nikola Vucevic made great shots and recorded a double-double, but Gafford largely held his own even when he was pulled to the three-point line. He also blocked three shots.

Spencer Dinwiddie: C+

3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists

Dinwiddie had a forgettable game in many ways tonight as he failed all six of his three point attempts on a 1-for-8 shooting night overall. He gets the “plus” on his letter grade because he stays the course like a pro, picking up a few rebounds and finding his teammates instead of forcing the issue beyond the general good looks he couldn’t execute.

Dwight Powell: A

5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Powell played almost 20 minutes and it wasn’t just a waste of time. With Dereck Lively out, he had meaningful time in this game, posting numbers in each of the five primary stat categories. He was the typical energetic, intelligent player we’ve seen for years. He didn’t convert too many shots, but he did draw fouls and made 3 of 4 free throws.

Jaden Hardy: B

11 points, 2 assists

Hardy matched Klay Thompson’s three-point performance (3 of 7) and made it in 11 fewer minutes. His 40% overall rate from the floor needs to come in as he still has a hard time finishing at the rim and literally throwing a layup in the air in the second quarter wasn’t pretty. Overall, he delivered some microwave hits and also had a few nice passes to finish.

Bench Mob: N/A

Everyone played in this game, so everyone’s name is mentioned. O-Max (six points, one point), Markieff Morris (two points, two assists), Brandon Williams (two points, two points), Jazian Gortman (his first three NBA points) and Kessler Edwards all saw action in this game . O-Max was a bit inefficient, but you could see a lot of potential and a lot of buzz. Gortman scored his first NBA points and overall the backup team retained most of the lead they inherited.

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