Hot Shooting from Kyrie Irving and Josh Green Helps Dallas Mavericks Beat the Detroit Pistons.
With strong offensive performances led by Kyrie Irving and Josh Green, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Detroit Pistons at American Airlines Center to close out their preseason with a win.
FRISCO — On Friday night, the preseason for the Dallas Mavericks came to a close with the team’s lone game at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-104 thanks to a powerful offensive performance, giving them a 1-3 record in the preseason.
With Luka Doncic out with a mild calf strain, the Mavericks went with a more nimble offensive unit that relied on handoffs and ball screens to immediately get into the action. The Pistons were unable to stay up with Dallas, who put on a great shooting show from beyond the arc.
“When you look at the way we have been talking about pace,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd stated. We haven’t been seen in a while, so I wanted people to see that we can play quickly. Scoring 40 points in the first quarter was a big deal, as was coming back in the third quarter with essentially the same mentality. It was encouraging to see the starting lineup in action.
After missing the previous two games with groin pain, Kyrie Irving has returned to the starting lineup. He was instrumental in setting the tempo as a distributor and scorer, contributing 17 points, eight boards, and eleven helpers. Given his injuries and extensive worldwide travel, he found the tea’s effects encouraging.
Irving remarked how refreshing it was to be “back out there with the guys.” Traveling to Abu Dhabi and Madrid, we have worked really hard during this preseason. We’re just giving our bodies a little extra time to adjust to the new time zone. You know, tonight was just one of those tests when we get to go against an opponent who doesn’t know our location.” We’ve had a couple excellent practices, so I like to see a carryover, and I’ve been active in practice trying to get after guys getting after me.
In a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons, Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks drives the lane.
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeroen M. Iron
In the first period, the Mavericks shot 60.9 percent from the field and made six three-pointers, leading to 40 points. Josh Green’s aggressiveness on the catch was essential in setting the tempo, as he scored 15 of his 22 points without a miss.
I wanted to come out and win the game so we could start the season off with a victory and some momentum, Green said. When I got the chance, I wanted to sneak in and fire away with the ball. What I’ve been working on is clear to me. Trying my hand at a wide variety of activities in an effort to relax.
The Mavericks were held to just 19 points in the second quarter due to a dramatic drop in shooting accuracy. The Pistons had began to close the distance, but Dallas had a solid second half and reclaimed control of the moment. By the end of the third quarter, Dallas’ lead had ballooned to 21 points, 78-61, thanks in large part to the Mavericks’ ability to catch a rhythm from deep once again.
An outstanding performer, Lively racked up 14 points, five boards, and two assists. When playing with Irving in a two-man game, he often finished plays, established the tempo in dribble handoff actions, and protected the paint defensively.
“[I’m] merely attempting to instill assurance. When asked about her strategy, Lively responded, “You just try to use every play, use every possession, and just use my teaммates.” To simplify matters, “we’ve just been building chemistry for the past couple of weeks,” the author writes.
The Mavericks’ minutes distribution strategy going into this game called for giving more playing time to players with two-way contracts in the final quarter. Dallas did this with personnel combinations with a little over half of the quarter left.
The Mavericks’ regular season begins on October 25 against the San Antonio Spurs and their sensational first-year player Victor Wesbanya.