In probably their most exciting game of the season, the Mavericks (48-39) overcame a 22-point first-half deficit(largest deficit they overcame this season) to defeat the Houston Rockets 147-136 in overtime on Sunday in Dallas.
The Mavericks played in their first overtime game this season, and they got to the extra session when Dante Exum made a three at the buzzer after Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. missed two free throws with 08.3 seconds left in regulation.
On that final shot in regulation, Luka Doncic, who had 37 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists, was double-teamed and was forced to give it, and Exum took advantage of the opportunity.
“I mean, I was going to shoot it, but then I saw two people on me, and saw Dante [Exum] open,” Doncic said. “Of course, I’m going to pass it; that’s the trust we have.”
Exum, who finished with 14 points, explained what he saw on his game-tying three.
“So, I went and grabbed it and obviously got it to Luka [Dončić], but they tried to double,” he said. It was about not getting the offensive foul first and then setting my feet. Luka [Dončić] is obviously great about knowing that two guys are obviously going to double him and trusting his teammates.”
Dallas trailed most of this game and took their first lead in the fourth.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd, whose team outscored Houston 18-7 in OT, said this win was a team effort.
“This is a team effort,” he said. “As much as you look at Kai (Kyrie Irving) having 48 and Luka [Dončić] having 37, it was everyone. [Dante] Exum makes the big shot. I thought the execution late game; we got the foul, we got lucky with the missed free throws and then Kai had a great look to be able to tie it. What the guys are doing this time of the year is big and we’re going to need that going forward.”
This game was also about Kyrie Irving’s play. He scored 19 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter, which is the most by a Maverick in the fourth quarter this season.
“My teammates kept putting the ball in my hands, and I had the matchup tonight, so I just kept taking advantage of it.,” he said. “I had some easy ones go for me tonight and just continue to feed off of the good energy. It was a total team effort tonight, really. We left it all out on the floor tonight. You could feel that.”
The Mavericks should have lost this game, but good teams make their own breaks, and at this point, the Mavericks, who are 14-2 in their last 16 games, are a very good team.
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