Dallas Mavericks: 3 takeaways from the loss to the Pacers

2. Need bench production

The Dallas Mavericks only had ten players dressed against the Pacers. The team has been hit hard by injuries and illness recently. Crucial role players Dorian Finney-Smith and Seth Curry were out. That meant starting Courtney Lee and Maxi Kleber on Sunday.

The Mavs got limited production from their bench. They scored just 25 points combined on 14 field goal attempts. Delon Wright played 23 minutes. Justin Jackson saw 19 with Willie Cauley-Stein earning ten. J.J. Barea (four) and Boban Marjanovic (six) barely got any run.

The Mavericks need more from their bench down the stretch. Tim Hardaway Jr. played 39 minutes with Kristaps Porzingis at 38 and Luka seeing 36. That is a playoff workload. The Mavs need those three men fresh for the postseason meaning giving them a bit of extra rest down the stretch.

Getting Curry and Finney-Smith back in the lineup is important. Hopefully, neither injury is severe and both return in the upcoming week. It will not be a moment too soon for the Mavs.

That would allow Kleber to head back to the bench and instantly boost their production. It also improves the floor spacing and makes Dallas more dangerous on the offensive end.

Next: No. 1