On Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Denver Nuggets in a must-win morning. After battling back and forth and nearly losing a 13-point lead late in the fourth, the Mavericks would earns 107-105 victory over the Nuggets after a superb left hook shot from Kyrie Irving to beat the final buzzer.
The Mavericks have won five of their last six games and have improved significantly during this recent stretch. Against the Nuggets, the Mavs outscored them 60-37 and recorded 16 more offensive rebounds off the former NBA Champs. Additionally, the Mavericks dominated the paint, outscoring the Nuggets 62-38.
Against Denver, the Mavericks proved to be a better team than their 39-29 record suggested. Beating a team that has only lost one game since the All-Star break should be a statement to other teams about what the Mavericks can do in the postseason. However, one question remains for Dallas.
From fall with a sprained ankle last week loss to OKC Thunder, Josh Green’s role has not yet been filled offensively. Green had an up-and-down season up to that point, but he had become a constant threat to opposing teams.
One player fans have been calling for to fill Green’s role is Derrick Jones Jr. The high-flying forward had emerged as one of Dallas’ best players throughout the early part of the season until he hit a major wall on both sides of the field.
Throughout March, Jones Jr. regained his shooting touch. The 6-foot-6 forward shot 47.4 percent from behind the arc in March, up nearly 24 percent from the previous month. It seems like Jones Jr.’s emergence from 3-point range couldn’t have come at a better time for the Mavericks.
Jones Jr. has also shown his value offensively as a driver due to his ability to attack the rim rather than settling for a catch-and-shoot three every time.
Defensively, Jones Jr. has become one of the Mavericks’ best defenders on the perimeter. From be reintroduced into the starting lineup Earlier this month, PJ Washington and Jones Jr. became a feared duo on the perimeter.
Consistency has been the downfall of Jones Jr.’s minutes, so if he can become a consistent offensive producer, he should become the breakout player the Mavs need for their playoff push. Dallas currently sits in seventh place in the Western Conference, so they’ll need all of Jones Jr.’s help to get out of the play-in race.
For more updates on Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks, stay tuned.
