The Mavericks were without Luka Doncic(right ankle soreness) when they hosted the Houston Rockets Wednesday night.
Without Doncic, they got a combined 54 points from their starting backcourt of Jalen Brunson(28 points) and Spencer Dinwiddie(26 points) as Dallas routed the Rockets 110-91.
The Mavericks continued their home dominance, as they swept the two-game homestand and improved to 17-4 in their last 21 games at American Airlines Center.
Dinwiddie, who is averaging 20.1 points (.503 FG, .420 3FG), 3.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the last 13 games, scored 19 points in the first half, and Brunson, who has been over 20-plus points in 18 games this season, had all 16 of his second-half points in the third quarter. Dinwiddie was 5/8 from the floor in that first half but shot only five more times the rest of the way because Brunson got rolling.
“I think JB [Jalen Brunson] turned it up and got rolling,” Dinwiddie said about the second half. “I think I was just reading the game from that standpoint. And obviously, it was working. We started taking the lead and going up. So, there was no need to insert yourself forcefully. If we were going down, then I probably would have.”
Brunson added: “I just wanted to be aggressive. I wanted to get in the paint and play with a little more pace. I was able to attack gaps and take angles to get to the rim. I was able to get fouled, and that is it.”
Dinwiddie and Brunson looked comfortable together on the floor, and according to Brunson, it’s been a lot of fun.
“I think me and Spencer have been comfortable since he has gotten here,” Brunson said. “There hasn’t really been any friction or anything. It has been fun. It kind of just flows ever since he was inserted into the lineup. It is relieving when you have someone else who can create the way he can create for himself and others. It is a credit to him for being a great teammate. For coming in here and just wanting to win.”
Dallas has won a lot since Dinwiddie came over from the Wizards, as the Mavericks are 12-3 since the trade. They play defense(first in opponents points allowed), which is good, and they have a dynamic star in Doncic.
The Mavericks(45-28) and Jazz(45-28) are tied for the fourth spot in the West. With nine games left, Dallas would love to finish strong and get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
