Dante Exum's improvement as a shooter makes Mavericks a serious contender

On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks took on their in-state foe San Antonio Spurs. After battling back and forth and being unable to sustain a legitimate lead throughout the game, the Mavericks would finally pull away in the final minutes to beat the Spurs 113-107. This win for Dallas would mark the first time in two seasons that the Mavericks swept the season series vs their in-state foe.

Mavericks forward P.J. Washington showed some promise after struggling from behind the arc for multiple weeks. He would end up going 2-5 from behind the 3-point line and grabbed six pivotal rebounds in the process.

After having the worst shooting night of his career, Luka Doncic still managed to have a great impact on the game with his 18-point triple-double. Doncic honed in on his passing ability after missing his first few attempts from the field and finished the night off with 16 assists in the winning effort.

Dante Exum's improvement as a shooter makes Mavericks a serious contender

Additionally, Kyrie Irving led all scores with his 28 points and once again proved why he and Doncic are one of the most feared duos in the league. Irving had multiple possessions late in the fourth that helped the Mavs pull away.

Since returning from injury in late February, Mavericks guard Dante Exum has become a critical piece in Dallas' recent success. Exum was signed during the offseason to bring in defensive depth and versatility, but he has become so much more for Dallas over this season.

Exum hasn't just become a lockdown guard defender, but he has also become a knockdown shooter from behind the arc. Exum is currently shooting a whopping 50 percent from behind the 3-point line, and in last night's win over the Spurs, he went a perfect 4-4 from three with 16 points. The Mavericks are now 7-1 when Exum scores 15 or more points, which speaks volumes to how important Exum has become for Dallas this season.

Since signing with Dallas, Exum has recorded a career-high in almost every stat. Despite playing at an elite level, health has become a major concern when it comes to Exum, but since missing over a month with right knee bursitis, he has now played in 11 games in a row.

Exum's availability will continue to be a concern among fans. But after stringing together one of the most impressive stretches of his career, there is no doubt Exum has raised the potential of this Dallas team. For more updates on Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Dante Exum, and Dallas Mavericks basketball, stay plugged in.