3 Studs, 2 duds in Mavericks' shorthanded loss to Grizzlies

1. Stud - Derrick Jones Jr.

One might ask, "How could one be number one on the studs list with the lowest plus/minus?" Well, this might be a first and a last, but here we are.

The shorthanded Mavericks relied on several underutilized players to float the boat. Derrick Jones Jr. was one of those players. Although he finished as a -23, his worst plus/minus of the season, the high-flying wing tied his season-high with four 3-pointers.

Jones Jr. finished 4-of-7 from the three-point line and 6-of-14 from the field. Jones Jr.'s 14-shot attempts were his most in a game this season. Even more perplexing, 14-shot attempts were the second-most in a game in his career.

As a starter, Jones Jr. was utilized more so than every other player besides Kyrie Irving. His defense may have taken a hit, allowing Desmond Bane to score at will, but his offense looked great.

If not for a missed dunk in transition, Jones Jr. would have nearly matched his career-high of 17 points. The Dallas forward has turned into much more than a one-dimensional player.

The high-flying acrobatics are still present, but knockdown 3-point shooting has now entered Jones Jr.'s repertoire. After last night's performance, Jones Jr. is now shooting 40 percent for the season.

If the consistent shooting continues, Jones Jr. will likely see an increase in minutes. He's already seeing 22.4 minutes per game but has seen 30-plus minutes in the past two contests.