Doncic on the Mavs: ‘I still feel great about this team’

On Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks(9-13) finally looked like the team that many thought they could be when the season began. Dallas had three players with 20 points or more. Luka Doncic had 27 points and 14 assists, Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Tim Hardway Jr. chipped in with 22 points off the bench as Dallas defeated the Hawks(10-11) on the road 122-115. 

With the victory, the Mavericks snap their six-game losing streak.

Much needed win,” Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. “Guys did a good job of fighting back from a deficit at halftime… I loved the way we fought and played good team basketball.”

Doncic added: “We got a win, and that’s all that matters to me. We were so happy after the game. It’s been a tough stretch. Always feels good to win a game.”

Even during the six-game losing streak, Porzingis kept the faith, which he discussed after the game.

“You always gotta have the faith and the confidence that you can go back at any moment and go on the run the opposite way, winning, so that’s what we are looking forward to now,” Porzingis said. “Just bouncing back and getting a good rhythm as a team, as a group, and showing what we are capable of.”

The Mavericks now have a seven-game homestand, which starts on Thursday night against the Warriors. With everything that has gone wrong for Dallas, Doncic still feels good about the team.

“I still feel great about this team,” Doncic said. ‘We just got a couple of guys coming back now. They’re still trying to get into shape after COVID, but I think we will be okay. Just a tough stretch. We have to stay positive and just enjoy the basketball.”

The Mavericks can turn it around. A lot of basketball left in this season, and now that they have their full roster, maybe this is the time they get right.