Dallas Mavericks need that Kristaps Porzingis to make deep playoff run

The Dallas Mavericks topped the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 24 in surprising fashion. Luka Doncic had been white-hot in his last three games, but he could not find his shot in Minneapolis. Josh Richardson did not stand out either. The Mavs needed Kristaps Porzingis to pick up the slack, and he did not disappoint.

The Unicorn had one of his best games of the season to lift the Mavericks to a 128-108 victory. He finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in 29 minutes of action. Dallas rested him the entire fourth quarter in the blowout victory in Minnesota.

The Mavs need that Porzingis if they are going to make a deep playoff run. It was not just the outstanding stat line, but how Zinger did it that is key. Here is a closer look at his outstanding performance and why Dallas needs that production consistently.

Dallas Mavericks need that Kristaps Porzingis to make a deep playoff run

KP was attacking inside early on Wednesday night. See him create an easy basket below.

Porzingis mixed his game up against the Timberwolves. He got inside for easy finishes. The 7’3 big man was also posting up and nailing mid-range jumpers, especially over smaller defenders. Fans know the Unicorn brings the outside shooting that is a key piece of their offense, but mixing up his shots makes the Mavericks more dangerous.

KP needs to get inside more and create easy looks. He had 34 points in his last three games combined because the Unicorn was shooting almost exclusively jumpers that were not falling. Porzingis needs to get to the rim and finish. He can do it off cuts or rolls, but the Mavericks need that element from their 7’3 big man.

The 25-year-old also had it locked in on the defensive end of the floor. See a beautiful block from the Unicorn below.

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1374897032654118919

Since getting healthy, the Mavericks offense has been elite with Porzingis on the floor, but there have been defensive struggles. Dallas needs the Unicorn protecting the rim and making a significant impact on that end of the floor. He did it on Wednesday night. The Mavericks outscored Minnesota by 14 points with KP on the floor in part because he stepped up his defense.

The Dallas Mavericks secured a blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 24 with Luka Doncic struggling to hit shots. The 22-year-old superstar had just seven points on 12 field goal attempts entering the fourth quarter. Dallas won because Kristaps Porzingis was outstanding. They need him playing at that level to make a deep playoff run.

The Unicorn has been inconsistent this season. Hopefully, Wednesday’s performance gets him back on track. KP was outstanding inside the bubble. If the player from Walt Disney World or Wednesday night shows up consistently, the Mavs are going to scary during the stretch run. Keep an eye on Kristaps Porzingis’ play because he is the key to Dallas advancing in the postseason.