Mavericks overcome major obstacle in win over Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks came off a road trip in Los Angeles leaving 1-1, and tonight defeating the Houston Rockets 121-115 in another In-Season Tournament matchup.

The Mavericks started the first quarter hot, with Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. leading the way with a combined 16 points. Luka was showing fans early that there is no reason to be worried about his thumb injury.

Mavericks star rookie Dereck Lively II was also a game-time decision and had a pretty good game, recording a couple blocks, and slamming in a few dunks.

Mavericks overcome major obstacle in win over Rockets

Despite a fast start from a few players dealing with injuries, the Rockets regained their composure before halftime. They successfully narrowed the Maverick's 14-point lead down to four.

Luka Doncic carried the bulk of the offensive load for the Mavericks in the first half, shouldering the offensive responsibility. His performance was the driving force for the team's scoring efforts during those initial two quarters finishing the half with 18 points.

However, despite Doncic's stellar contributions, the team struggled with its shooting percentage and shot-making, proving to be a significant obstacle throughout the first three quarters. The collective offensive efficiency appeared to be a challenge, highlighting the need for improved execution as the game progressed.

In the second half, Luka continued to dominate, orchestrating the offense with finesse. To complement his brilliance, Kyrie Irving, often regarded as his "Robin," emerged in a timely fashion, adding firepower to the team's offense just when they needed it the most.

The combined efforts of the dynamic duo sparked a resurgence in the team's performance, reclaiming control of the game. Both stars concluded the third quarter with 11 points each, contributing to Luka's impressive 41 points and Kyrie's solid 27.

After making nine consecutive buckets in the 3rd quarter, the Mavericks regained complete control in the late stages of tonight's victory. Remarkably, the team boasts an 8-1 record in clutch games, creating the impression that they thrive when the stakes are high, almost as if they are intentionally playing for games to be closely contested.

Luka is now tied with Joel Embiid at 11 games with 30 points this season, it'll be interesting to see how the scoring race continues despite the thumb injury.

For more news on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks stay tuned.