Although the Dallas Mavericks earned its eighth victory in nine games Monday night against the Utah JazzThey know they’ll likely need to get off to a better defensive start in Tuesday’s second night of a back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings.
After giving up 41 points to the Jazz, the Mavs defense responded by tightening their grips tighter with each passing quarter. Dallas only gave up 25 points in the second quarter, 22 points in the third quarter and 17 points in the decisive fourth quarter. The Mavs have proven they can play high-level defense when fully engaged, and they will look to bring a high level of aggression to Sacramento for a major two-game miniseries this could decide which team avoids the NBA Play-In tournament.
Domantas Sabonis, Derek Lively II
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“We have to be physical early in games,” said PJ Washington, who finished Monday’s win with 16 points, including two huge corner 3s in the fourth quarter. “They scored 41 in the first quarter. We can’t have that. But I felt like we did a great job defensively the rest of the game. We just kept playing, got a few saves and converted at the other end. I thought we did a great job in the second half.
When it comes to overall team defense, it’s a little easier to be successful when your star player is engaged on that end of the floor. Luka Doncic has moved up a notch in that department this season, and he puts the Mavs in a position where they control their own destiny for the No. 6 seed in the West as long as they continue to win games.
“It was awesome,” Doncic said of the Mavs’ excellent Utah defense. “In the first quarter they scored 41. Then only 64 in the[(ast)threequartersWeshouldhavestartedthegamethesamewayweplayedthelastthreequartersWeareinadifficultsituationrightnow(inthestandings)Wewon(eightoutofnine)Weshouldjustkeepwinning[(ast)threequartersWeshouldhavestartedthegamethewayweplayedthelastthreequartersWe’reinatoughspotrightnow(inthestandings)We’vewon(eightofnine)Wejustgottokeepgettingthewins”[(ast)troisquarts-tempsNousaurionsdûcommencerlematchdelamêmemanièrequenousavonsjouélestroisderniersquarts-tempsNoussommesdansunesituationdifficileencemoment(auclassement)Nousavonsgagné(huitsurneuf)Nousdevonsjustecontinueràremporterdesvictoires[(ast)threequartersWeshouldhavestartedthegamethewayweplayedthelastthreequartersWe’reinatoughspotrightnow(inthestandings)We’vewon(eightofnine)Wejustgottokeepgettingthewins”
There will be no shortage of motivation in Tuesday night’s game against the Kings, as neither team wants their 82-game season to come down to one or two games in the Play-In tournament. With both teams on a second straight night, there will be no excuses in this one – just two high-quality teams playing high-quality, playoff-like basketball.
“I’m excited,” Washington said. “I can’t wait to go out there and play (against the Kings). And I feel like everyone is excited. We all know what’s at stake. These will be two really exciting matches.
