New Mavericks X-factor makes ex-fan favorite look like a lost afterthought

After dropping the first of two home and home games against the LA Clippers 118-95 on Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks rallied back to defeat them on Saturday night in dominant fashion by a score of 113-97. While Kyrie Irving returned to play after missing the first game against the Clippers, superstar Luka Doncic remained sidelined with a heel contusion despite his MVP case being on the line.

It may have taken a barrage of threes in the fourth quarter to break away from the Clipper's grasp, but the Mavericks got the job done with eight players scoring in double digits. Quentin Grimes led all scorers with 20 points including a fourth-quarter explosion that saw him score nine straight points at one point early in the fourth.

In addition to Grimes' late-game surge, Mavericks forward Naji Marshall had an efficient 12 points to help boost the Mavs over their heated rivals. Since snagging Marshall in the offseason on the first night of free agency, fans have been pleasantly surprised with his output since getting comfortable in Dallas.

While Marshall has had a great start to his Maverick career, many fans were waiting for his opportunity to play against former fan-favorite wing Derrick Jones Jr. to see who was better between the two as Marshall was widely reported to be the backup option if they didn't re-sign Jones Jr.

Marshall proves he's the better fit after shining against Jones Jr.

A head-to-head matchup may not be the best way to compare two players to see who was a better fit for a team, but in the case of Marshall, it's all fans needed. After seeing Jones Jr. walk in the summer to sign with the Clippers and signing Marshall on a cheaper deal, fans needed a closer look to see what investment the Mavericks truly made between the two wings.

Both forwards have made a living off of their defensive impact throughout their careers. Still, after fantastic seasons with the Pelicans and Mavericks last season, both were ready for huge paydays. With this in mind, Dallas opted to sign Marshall on a smaller deal while also retaining the better offensive player between the two.

Through the first quarter of the NBA season, Marshall hasn't only proven to be one of the team's most impactful players off the bench but he has outplayed Jones Jr. and their recent head-to-head showdowns prove this.

Against the Clippers, Marshall made a living in late shot clock scenarios by nailing open shots from behind the arc and cashing in on his patent floater game. In Saturday night's win, Marshall had his best game with 12 points off the bench on 50 percent shooting from the field.

Marshall not only lit up the scoreboard in the first half but also sank two wide-open threes at the end of the shot clock to extend Dallas' lead at the time. Marshall has proven he can be a reliable weapon on the offensive end when many critics doubted Jones Jr's. offensive capabilities during his time as a Maverick.

Jones Jr. is on track to have his best offensive season to date as he is averaging 10 points per game on 43.2 shooting from behind the 3-point line, but it still doesn't sniff Marshall's 12-point average this season. In addition to Marshall's offensive output, he has shot 50 percent from behind the arc on his last 32 attempts.

While Jones Jr. will forever be a fan favorite with his role in bringing the Mavericks back to the NBA Finals, it would be a stretch to say he was better than Marshall has been in his short time in Dallas. Marshall still has plenty to prove before he can be on the level that Jones Jr. was as a Mav, but he is well on his way to becoming one of the team's best and most underrated offseason acquisitions in franchise history.