Dallas Mavs’ Rare Hot Start: Can Kyrie Irving Help Luka Doncic Win MVP & More?
The Dallas Mavericks have only played two games so far, but they’re already in a rare position. Thanks to Luka Doncic’s 49-point performance and late-game heroics, the Mavs topped the Brooklyn Nets 125-120 on Friday night.
With the win, Dallas is 2-0 to start the season for only the second time in the last 19 years. It's still early, but the Mavs have a lot to be excited for, given how they've won these first two games. After being tied for a league-high 29 clutch-game losses with the Utah Jazz last season, the Mavs have already started 2-0 in that department. And despite the team's defense giving up 119.5 points through two games and Kyrie Irving having yet to find his shooting stroke, Dallas has still found a way to win.
"There was a lot of magic in the air, man. That shot was crazy," Irving said of Doncic's latest game-winner. "I was going in to crash the offensive glass, and I was like, ‘Man this has a chance.’ I was just following it, and what a night for Luka, what a night for our team. Not necessarily guarding the Nets as good as we wanted, not paying attention to the game plan as well as we would have wanted, but to leave out of here, home floor, first [home] game of the season with a win feels good.”
Luka Doncic excited after hitting a game-winning shot for the Dallas Mavericks.
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Doncic has put up MVP-like numbers over the last four years, but the Mavs haven't been able to win enough games to push him over the threshold for winning that prestigious award. If Dallas can continue to mesh and win 50-plus games this season, it might be the year Doncic adds "NBA MVP" to his resume. Of course, as great as that honor would be, Doncic would much rather have the word "Finals" thrown in the middle of that title. Irving can be the guy to help Doncic get there.
“It’s amazing," Irving said when asked about the Mavs' home opener. "I try my best to be present and keep a seriousness about myself just to get ready. ... This is my third game, technically. I wish I had more time in the preseason. Just trying to get in shape and get my balance underneath me. It’s just a lot of shots that I am missing short, and when you’re missing short, you just got to continue to go into the weight room, continue to do the work that got you here and continue to trust. That's what I’ve been doing."
Irving continued: "Theres a level of frustration, playing at home or playing against the San Antonio Spurs these first two games you want to play extremely well and set the precedent. Again, it’s not just a me game. It’s a team sport, and my teammates are picking me up. I think you’re going to see a bit of a different role from me this year because of the pieces we have and how well we can give Luka a break when he’s not necessarily being the number-one scoring threat."
If Doncic is going to win the individual accolades he's capable of winning, and if the Mavs are going to not only climb back into the playoff picture, but also compete for a championship, Irving is going to be a big reason for those things happening or not.
