Revisiting Each Dallas Mavericks Christmas Day Recreation – Sports activities Illustrated

The Dallas Mavericks are taking part in of their eighth-ever Christmas Day recreation on Wednesday, taking part in the Minnesota Timberwolves, who’re taking part in of their third. That is the fifth time Dallas has performed on Christmas since Luka Doncic joined the staff.
Dallas has a 4-3 file in these Christmas video games, however earlier than they play on Wednesday, let's revisit the earlier seven video games.
READ MORE: Luka Doncic on Mavs' Injury Report Ahead of Christmas Game vs. Timberwolves
Dirk Nowitzki's first Christmas recreation got here towards the staff they beat within the second spherical of the 2003 playoffs, not so dissimilar to what we're seeing in 2024. Sacramento was up by 16 at halftime behind 13 factors every from Gerald Wallace and Brad Miller, in addition to 10 from Mike Bibby. Antawn Jamison had a powerful first half for the Mavs with 16 factors, however they had been staring down a giant gap heading into the second half.
The Mavericks took OFF within the second half, as Dirk Nowitzki had 22 factors and 9 rebounds within the second half alone. He additionally acquired 20 factors from Antoine Walker, together with 4 made threes, as Dallas outscored the Kings 67-43 to shut out the sport. Dirk had 31 factors in his Christmas debut.
A really festive recreation between the Mavs and Blazers, as Dallas wore inexperienced and Portland wore pink. This was a younger, up-and-coming Portland squad that had simply chosen Greg Oden first total the 12 months earlier than and Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge in 2006. Had this trio stayed collectively, they’d've been a pressure to be reckoned with, as they gained 54 video games this season. However they dropped this one.
The Mavericks had a small lead early however would give strategy to Portland thanks to fifteen mixed factors from Roy and Aldridge. That gave the Blazers an 80-77 lead into the fourth, the place it could be all Mavs from there. Dallas acquired 19 factors from their bench unit of Jason Terry, JJ Barea, and Brandon Bass to outscore Portland 25-14 within the ultimate body and go on to win. Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers on this recreation with 30 factors.
Because of the lockout-shortened season, Dirk Nowitzki and the re-tooled Mavs took on the Warmth within the first recreation of the season on Christmas. This was additionally an NBA Finals rematch of Dallas' lone championship and Miami got here into this recreation in search of revenge.
And Miami positive confirmed that early, roaring out to a 32-17 lead by the tip of the primary quarter behind 10 factors from LeBron James and 7 from Dwyane Wade. The Mavs misplaced lots of key items from that championship staff, as Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic, and Caron Butler had been all gone and changed by older veterans like Lamar Odom, Delonte West, and Vince Carter. The lockout didn't give them time to gel, and by the tip of the third quarter, Miami had a 97-65 lead. The Mavs tried to drag a 2011 playoff-like miracle, outscoring the Warmth 29-8 within the fourth quarter, however they by no means acquired nearer than the ultimate results of 105-94, as Miami went scoreless over the ultimate 5 minutes of the sport.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 factors in what would transform his final Christmas recreation, however he was outclassed by LeBron James, who had 37 factors, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The primary Christmas recreation of Luka Doncic's profession was Dallas' second towards LeBron James. And due to COVID-19, this was the second recreation of the season in an empty Staples Heart, so one other unusual Christmas recreation for the Mavs. LA gained each quarter on this recreation, but it surely was principally aggressive all through. The Lakers didn't go up by double-digits till the ultimate minute of the primary half, however Dallas had a transparent expertise drawback towards the reigning NBA Champions.
Luka Doncic had 27 factors and 7 assists in his first Christmas recreation, outscoring LeBron James, who had 22. Anthony Davis led the sport total with 28 factors and eight rebounds, but in addition Montrezl Harrell got here off the bench to provide them 22 factors. Dallas' second-leading scorer was a tie between Josh Richardson and Trey Burke, who every had 17.
This recreation featured an actual "who's who" of names, as Luka Doncic and Dorian-Finney Smith missed this recreation, leaving them to start out Sterling Brown and have Theo Pinson, Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss, Moses Brown, George King, and Charlie Brown Jr. as their bench unit. Gross.
Dallas had a nine-point lead behind 17 mixed factors from Jalen Brunson and Kristaps Porzingis within the first quarter. Donovan Mitchell went scorched earth within the second quarter, although, scoring 16 factors on 4/7 capturing and making all eight free throws. That gave the Jazz a two-point lead heading into halftime. Porzingis had 12 of his 27 factors within the third quarter, which had the sport tied on the finish of the third quarter, however a 6-0 stretch from the Jazz with three minutes left behind Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic pushed them forward for good.
Brunson additionally had 27 factors on this recreation, however Mitchell led the best way with 33 factors, getting assist from Bogdanovic's 25 and Conley's 22. These two groups would meet once more within the first spherical of the playoffs, with the Mavericks coming away with a six-game collection win.
The third time Dallas has performed towards LeBron James on Christmas, the Lakers began scorching with a 17-6 lead behind some fast baskets from James. It's humorous wanting again and seeing some guys who had been taking part in in a giant recreation for the Mavs simply two seasons in the past, as gamers like Reggie Bullock and Christian Wooden began the sport, whereas Davis Bertans, Theo Pinson, and McKinley Wright IV got here off the bench. All 5 of these gamers aren't even taking part in proper now (thanks, Nico Harrison).
The Lakers took an 11-point lead into halftime, however the Mavericks DOMINATED the third quarter, outscoring LA 51-21, getting 16 factors from Tim Hardaway Jr. and 13 factors and 6 assists from Luka Doncic. Dallas was 9/13 from three within the third quarter, whereas the Lakers had been 6/18 from the flooring. That was sufficient for Dallas to cruise to a nine-point victory.
The newest Christmas recreation the Mavericks performed in was a thriller between the Mavericks and the Suns. Dallas roared out to a double-digit lead halfway by the primary quarter, getting some early contributions from Luka Doncic and Dereck Vigorous II, as Doncic scored 17 factors within the first quarter. That lead continued all through the second quarter, as Dallas took a 10-point lead into halftime. Phoenix stormed again within the third quarter behind 19 factors on 5 three-pointers from Grayson Allen to take a one-point lead heading into the fourth. However Doncic continued to terrorize the Suns, placing up 12 factors and 5 assists on his strategy to 50 factors and 15 assists for the sport, one of many biggest Christmas performances of all time.
READ MORE: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves on Christmas: How to Watch, TV, Time, Odds, & Preview
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