3 Studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' first Summer League victory over Celtics

The Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Boston Celtics on Friday. The team completed their fourth Summer League game with a 101-90 win, as the Mavs got the best of Boston. Dallas led the whole game and did their part in nothing allowing the Celtics to creep back.

This was a different outcome from their first three games. Dallas did well in Game 1 against the Utah Jazz but struggled to close things out in the fourth quarter. Players such as Alex Fudge and Olivier-Maxence Prosper struggled to get things going.

Things took a different turn in Game 3 when the Mavs fell to the Miami Heat 92-79. The problem? Dallas struggled shooting the ball, as they shot 39.2 overall and 27.3 percent from the 3-point line. They also committed 24 fouls and 18 turnovers.

3 Studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' first Summer League victory over Celtics

However, the Mavericks did see the progression of Jazian Gortman on Wednesday. The small guard balled out, as he had 19 points, three assists, and two steals. He is also a growing shooter, who has a quick release and could develop into a great role player.

So, he could be the Mavs' solution to their final roster spot. He made an impact in the G League last season, scoring 9.4 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from the field. His athleticism and long wingspan make him a top prospect for Dallas.

Gortman though isn't the only player making a name for himself.

Here are some of his teammates who found success, while others struggled against the Celtics Friday.

5. Stud - Emanuel Miller

Emanuel Miller is a savvy forward who has been a huge help for the Mavericks this summer. He performed well in his first summer game, scoring eight points and three rebounds.

Miller struggled shooting in Game 3 as he shot 37.5 percent overall and missed his 3-point attempts. He improved his shooting in Game 4 though going 57.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range.

Miller's offensive game is one of his biggest strengths. He showed signs of that Friday, using his quickness to attack the basket and demonstrating his confidence in shooting the ball. He made a nice mid-range jumper over a bigger defender, showcasing he isn't afraid of the defense presented to him.

Another thing about Miller is his ability to do the little things. To pair with his improved shooting, Miller had seven rebounds and two blocks against the Celtics. His rebound game was more prominent on the defensive side, as he came down with five defensive boards.

He is an aggressive player who will do whatever it takes to help his team. If given the proper minutes, he can do some damage. For example, in Game 2 he scored 12 points and had four steals in 27 minutes.

Miller is one player not afraid to make his presence known.

4. Dud - Melvin Ajinca

Unlike Miller, Melvin Ajinca is one player struggling to find balance. The Mavs rookie has yet to find his shot.

He struggled in the team's first game going 1-5 from the 3-point line. He also knocked down just five of his 13 field goal attempts. Things got worse in Game 2 when Ajinca missed all five 3-point attempts.

The same trend continued against Boston Friday, when he shot 20 percent from long range, and 33 percent overall. He seems to lack confidence right now. For instance, he had two back-to-back three-point attempts Friday, as one of the shots was uncontested.

He has the ability though to make up for 3-point shooting by attacking the rim or using his mid-range game to make open shots.

However, his offensive game is probably the only thing he brings to the table. Against the Heat, he had five fouls and two rebounds. His trend continued Wednesday when Ajinca had two fouls and two turnovers.

Things didn't improve much on Friday. The Dallas rookie had one steal, assist, and rebound in 21 minutes. He also had turnover which stemmed from a travelling call.

Ajinca is a great rim scorer though, as he has shown the ability to dunk the ball well.

His shooting will need to improve if he hopes to make a roster spot one day.

3 . Stud - A.J. Lawson

One player who has been playing well in the summer league is A.J. Lawson. Lawson has yet to see valuable minutes with the team but is using the summer to showcase his talents.

Lawson had his best game in Game 3, scoring 22 points and 6 points. He also shot 54 percent from the field.

He carried that success into Friday's game, where he let his offensive game do the talking. Lawson scored 21 points on 63.6 percent shooting. He also went 50 percent from the 3-point line.

The young guard also tallied four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Lawson had the opportunity to convert more assists, but his teammates failed to convert their attempts. He has shown that he can be a flashy passer and an excellent defender who isn't afraid to pocket his opponents.

He showed off his skills last December in a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored a career-high 17 points on 70 percent shooting while having seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Lawson has shown that given time, he can be an elite scorer.

Lawson is already a member of the team's 15-man roster, and he must continue to play well to keep that spot.

2 . Dud - Alex Fudge

Alex Fudge has been struggling to get playing time in the NBA. Dallas signed Fudge on March 4 to a two-way contract but saw little playing time due to the team's success.

His struggles date back to his days with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was waived in January. Now, he could find success with Dallas, but he will need to overcome his recent difficulties.

For example, he failed to find success against the Celtics on Friday. He scored two points on 33 percent shooting. Fudge also contributed with four rebounds and two fouls.

He has yet to have a dominant game this summer. Fudge struggled in the team's Game 3 loss, as he had struggled shooting the ball from the 3-point line. Game 2 was the same story, but his defense took a hit. The problem is he fails to match the opposition's quickness and creates careless fouls sometimes.

Now, he is still a great player who has plenty of upsize. He is a great finisher at the rim and makes great judgements that help find his open teammates.

It's possible he could become the team's missing wingman if he improves his shot and works on his defensive feet.

1 . Stud - Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Last on the list is Mavs' 2023-24 rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper. The Mavs forward can move on the team's roster if he does what is needed.

This shouldn't be an issue if he keeps playing well in the Summer League. He had his best game Friday against the Celtics. Prosper scored 22 points on 57 percent shooting. He was also the only player at halftime to have scored in double figures.

Prosper also played with a ton of aggression, as he wasn't afraid to fight for rebounds down low. He also demonstrated this on the offensive end, as the former rookie threw it down for a couple of dunks.

His development will play a key role in deciding the team's outlook next season.

For starters, he must demonstrate progress. Prosper did this on Friday. He struggled to get things going Wednesday, scoring 11 points and shooting 25 percent overall. This was a different outlook Friday, as he improved his points and shooting percentage.

Prosper must now play well in the team's final summer game if he hopes to make the Mavs' roster.

Dallas will now have plenty of decisions to make once the Summer League ends on Saturday.

Stay tuned as the team looks to get their second win today.

For more updates on Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Dallas Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in as we will have you covered.