Kuzma: ‘(Daniel) Gafford’s got the easiest job in sports now’

Make it five straight for the Dallas Mavericks (31-23) as they defeated the Wizards 112-104 in comeback fashion on Monday night in Dallas.

The Mavs trailed for most of the night and by 10 entering the fourth quarter, and after a Richaun Holmes hook early in the fourth, Washington (9-44) pushed the lead to 11. Dallas’ Jaden Hardy scored eight of the team’s next 13 points to cut the lead to 95-94, and Luka Doncic would give the Mavs the lead for good on a step-back jumper. 

Dallas would outscore the Wizards 34-16 in the final stanza.

Doncic finished with a triple-double as he had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists, and Kyrie Irving also chipped in with 26 points.

This contest also was Daniel Gafford’s first game against against his former team, and he did his part. He had 16 points, 17 rebounds(a career-high 14 rebounds in the first half), two assists, two steals, and five blocks tonight against Washington. Only Anthony Davis has recorded such a stat line in the last three years in the NBA. 

“It went well for the most part,” Gafford said of playing his former team. “I enjoyed seeing all the guys again. They came out and handled business. It took us a minute, but we got it done in the end. It was something to adjust to, hearing the same guys I’ve been in the locker room for three years talking trash to me.”

Irving was happy with the way Gafford, who Dallas acquired from the Wizards before the trade deadline, reacted against his former team.

“Great effort,” Irving said. “He did his best at controlling his emotions or allowing his emotions to show … Just allowing the attitude inside him to focus on doing whatever it takes to win. Going against your former team is always going to bring out those natural emotions, so I’m grateful I got to see him in that environment tonight, see how he responded. Just proud of him. In his last two games, he’s done incredibly well, and he’s been a big force down there for us.”

Playing with Doncic and Irving means that Gafford will get some open looks, and Wizards’ forward Kyle Kuzma, who had 23 points on Monday night, believes his former teammate’s life will be easier in Dallas.

“Gafford’s got the easiest job in sports now,” Kuzma said. “You know, everybody is going to double. He’s just got to catch the ball in the middle of the key, and he just has to make the right play, either pass it or dunk it. [He got] 16 [points] and 17 [rebounds] in 24 minutes, that’s tough. I am happy for him. I am very happy for him.”

Washington has now lost seven straight, and they play their final game before the break on Wednesday night against the Pelicans, while the Mavs host the Spurs.

Notes:

-Deni Avdija notched 25 points (11-17 FG, 1-3 3FG, 2-6 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one block. Avdija’s 25 points tied for his career-high. With 25 points tonight, Avdija has recorded at least 20 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.

-Tyus Jones recorded 14 points (6-13 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, 16 assists and 2 steals. Jones’ 16 assists are his most in a game in his career (prev. 15 at NYK, 1/18/24). His 16 assists mark the most in a game by a Wizard since Bradley Beal against the Chicago Bulls on New Year’s Day (1/1/22).

-On Monday, Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Feb. 5 through Sunday, Feb. 11. It marks the second time this season (Dec. 18) and the 11th time in his career that he has received the honor. Doncic led the Mavericks to a 4-0 week with averages of 31.3 points (.513 FG%, .442 3FG%), 10.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 37.5 minutes per game.