In his first season as the head man in Dallas, Coach Jason Kidd has instilled a different intensity and passion in the Mavericks, one that was on full display Monday night as they overcame a deficit and the absence of star Luka Doncic, to even their first round playoff series with a home court Game 2 win.
The Dallas Mavericks gave it everything they had in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series with the Utah Jazz on Saturday afternoon, but the absence of star Luka Doncic, and the scoring punch he provides, was simply too much to overcome.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd has been named Western Conference Coach of the Month for March-April after Dallas posted a 16-5 record from March 1 through the end of the regular season.
Facing perhaps their stiffest test in this long season, the Dallas Mavericks were not only up to the challenge Sunday night on the road in Milwaukee, they picked up a signature win over the defending NBA Champions.
Led by a triple-double from superstar Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks protected their home court Tuesday night by blowing out the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a quick trip north, the Dallas Mavericks were back on their home court on Sunday night and the trio of Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson and Reggie Bullock led the way for a double digit victory to bring their season win total to 46.
At the end of a back and forth final flurry that saw the lead change hands three times in the final 23 seconds, Spencer Dinwiddie's triple tickled the twine as time expired to give the Mavericks a 113-111 win.
In a battle between the two hottest teams in the NBA since the All-Star break, it was Coach Jason Kidd's team, pushed by their biggest trade deadline acquisition, that came out on top Sunday in Boston.
The Dallas Mavericks got Luka Doncic back in the lineup on Monday and didn't miss a beat in reeling off their fifth straight win with a victory over a fellow playoff contender to bring their season win total to 40.
The Dallas Mavericks overcame the absence of superstar Luka Doncic and a 19-point this quarter deficit to win their fourth straight game on Saturday night.