Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are finally getting the national spotlight they deserve

Jaren Boslow

Philadelphia 76ers v Dallas Mavericks / Ron Jenkins/GettyImages

On Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Houston Rockets. With a combined team effort and a near 40-point triple-double out of Luka Doncic, the Mavericks wrangled their in-state foe 121-115.

Kyrie Irving greatly impacted the game with 27 points and five assists. Irving did an amazing job all night knifing his way through Rocket defenders to get easy lay-ins. Irving would even nail down on the defensive end, contributing a block and a steal in the effort to win.

Off the bench, Derrick Jones Jr. had a huge impact when on the floor. In his 34 minutes, he contributed 15 points and six rebounds. All night, Jones Jr. was pestering Houston's rebounding capabilities and created multiple second-chance opportunities for the Mavericks.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are finally getting the national spotlight they deserve

Doncic led the way with a game-high 41 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. When on the floor, Doncic looked merciless against his defenders no matter who was in front of him. He constantly found open lanes to attack and nail in easy shots.

Despite the Mavericks' 11-6 start, there has been a lack of national attention on the team and their two superstars. In a segment on ESPN's show, First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Tim Legler discuss the Mavericks' recent success and why this start is no fluke.

Throughout the segment, Stephen A. and Legler also discuss Jason Kidd's comments to a reporter after the game.

Additionally, the Mavericks have some impressive numbers from behind the arc and in the fourth quarter. Legler and Stephen A. discuss how the Mavericks are second in the NBA in 3-point efficiency, only behind the Boston Celtics.

The Mavericks are finally getting some national attention for the first time this season. With Doncic and Irving playing so well, it's easy to see why. The team still needs to fill some holes, especially on defense, but 17 games into the season, the Mavs have found a formula for winning.

The Mavericks' next game will be held on Friday, where they will once again play a division rival, the Memphis Grizzlies. For more updates on Dallas Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in.

Jaren Boslow

Jaren Boslow is a contributor for The Smoking Cuban, where he has been covering the Dallas Mavericks since the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Jaren is currently an undergrad student at the University of North Texas studying sports journalism. In addition to writing for The Smoking Cuban, Jaren is the beat writer for the North Texas men's and women's golf teams. While Jaren has only recently gotten into the journalism side of sports, he has been a longtime fan of the Mavericks for over a decade. Through his passion for sports and Mavericks basketball, Jaren offers a unique perspective to fans of the Dallas Mavericks. Outside of covering Mavericks basketball, Jaren is a full-time student who enjoys working out and spending quality time with friends.