With Flagg leading way, Mavs get back at Cavs
CLEVELAND—Dallas coach Jason Kidd might make a request to play more home-and-home series against Eastern Conference teams.
After a 33-point loss at home to the Cavaliers two nights earlier, the Mavericks bounced back at Cleveland and earned a 130-120 victory Sunday.
“We got beat pretty good at home, and so to not have to wait too long to play them again, while understanding the things that we made mistakes at home, we could correct,” Kidd said. “That was our energy and effort, which was probably one of the worst that we had all season. So, as a group, this was a character check and everyone passed.”
Friday’s 138-105 defeat was tied for the Mavericks’ worst loss of the season, after they dropped their season opener to San Antonio 125-92.
Cooper Flagg, the top overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft, had his best game since coming back from a left foot injury with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. It is the ninth time he has had at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game.
“I’m feeling better and just getting back into a rhythm,” he said. “I thought we had a much better presence with our physicality and kind of stood them up a little bit. I thought we just had a lot better pace. The ball was moving with a lot of energy.”
Kidd also moved PJ Washington to center, which resulted in 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Washington thought the switch helped open up the floor and led to more open shots from the perimeter for the Mavericks.
“I felt like they brought it to us in Dallas. They played a lot tougher than we did and they wanted it more so obviously we got a chip on our shoulder,” he said.
The most unlikely contribution came from rookie John Poulakidas, who had his first NBA points. Poulakidas, who signed a two-way contract on March 1, had 10 points, including eight in the third quarter when Dallas pulled away.
Poulakidas received the game ball in the locker room and said he was happy to come up big in a pivotal quarter that helped seal a win.
“The biggest thing for us was really just taking pride on the defensive end and then at the same time moving and sharing the ball. I think sometimes people lose sight of how much your offense really trickles down into your defense,” he said. “When everyone’s touching the ball and it’s moving side to side and everyone feels involved, it just makes everybody want to guard on the other end of the floor.”
Antetokounmpo briefly remained in the game and dunked again on Milwaukee’s next possession. He got fouled the possession after that and attempted a pair of free throws before heading to the locker room.
He didn’t play the rest of the way. Antetokounmpo ended up with 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes.
“My guess is he hyperextended his knee, but I’m guessing,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.
Antetokounmpo said he wasn’t planning on getting imaging. The two-time MVP said he believed he could have finished the game but chose to follow the advice of the Bucks’ training staff.
“I’m just going to go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow, try to lift some weights,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there. As of now, I’m not really bothered.”
The 31-year-old Antetokounmpo has missed a career-high 31 games this season. He’s had two extended absences because of strains in his right calf. He sat out the Bucks’ 122-99 loss at Atlanta on Saturday because of a sprained left ankle.
