The Dallas Mavericks won their first game of the 2020-2021 NBA season with a bang as the Clippers clearly needed Kawhi Leonard in the 124-73 final Sunday afternoon.
Within the opening seconds of the game, you could tell all the emotions of the first-round loss in the bubble last season fed into the energy of Dallas as Doncic got the first points for the guys in blue. In a blink of an eye, the Mavs were up 36-13 at the end of the first, with Luka Doncic and Josh Richardson with 13 points each.
By halftime, with the score at 77-27, the Clippers had already waved their white flag to the Dallas bench as the Mavericks broke an NBA record for the biggest lead of 50 points by the end of the first half.
Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Josh Richardson finished with 24 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18 points as they continued to punish the Clippers through the rest of the game behind Doncic. The Mavericks finished the day shooting 49% and finally outrebounding their opponent 54-36.
While it is only the first win and with plenty more games to come, this win was needed. Expectations were riding high heading into the season as newly favorited MVP candidate Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks started the season. All the hype was thrown out the window as Dallas started out 0-2. The season opener loss to Phoenix felt like the Mavs were trying to shake off any offseason rust that may be lingering. Then, the Christmas Day blowout loss to the defending champion Lakers seemed to be a wake-up call for Dallas.
Many blamed longtime HC Rick Carlisle for the slow start, or the need for Kristaps Porzingis, in the lack of success that the Mavericks showed in the two games. All that changed today as the Mavs showed their true identity that fans were hopeful for.
This is a statement win that this new Mavericks team will cherish for just a little bit longer as they prepare for the Charlotte Hornets on New Year’s Day. There is a lot of work left in the season, but Dallas showed the rest of the league what they’re capable of, and many cannot forget that Kristaps Porzingis is soon to make his return.
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