The Dallas Mavericks (37-38) blew a 12-point advantage in the clutch but held on strong and escaped with an intense 120-119 victory against the Chicago Bulls (33-41) on March 30.
Dallas Mavericks Top Performers:
Kai Jones 15 PTS | 7 REB | 4 STL | 45.9 FPS
Jones was listed as questionable for this game due to a hip issue but took the court and came up huge with an elite two-way performance. He remained highly efficient on offense, shooting nearly 85% from the field over his last seven games. On defense, he was just as dominant, nearly averaging 8 rebounds and tallying 6 stocks in today’s game. However, with both Gafford and Lively expected to return next week, it’s unlikely that Jones will be able to maintain this level of production moving forward.
Anthony Davis 18 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST| 42.9 FPS
Davis has faced some challenges on offense but has still contributed good scoring and rebounding numbers in three games since returning from an adductor injury. Today, he also added a stronger defensive performance to his efforts. He may need more time to fully adjust but bigger productions are possible with favorable matchups in the next two games.
Spencer Dinwiddie 14 PTS | 8 REB | 11 AST | 42.1 FPS
Dinwiddie has maintained his strong play, recording his third double-double in the last six games. While his scoring can be inconsistent, he continues to make a significant impact with his playmaking and defensive efforts.
PJ Washington 19 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 34.4 FPS
PJ shook off a questionable tag and delivered a strong game for his position. He’s been in and out of the lineup lately due to injuries but continues to start and remains a reliable option for scoring.
Klay Thompson 20 PTS | 5 3PM | 1 AST | 22.7 FPS
Thompson delivered a strong offensive performance today, though his contributions in other areas have been limited. Still, this marks a welcome improvement after underperforming in his last three games.
Chicago Bulls Top Performers:
Matas Buzelis 28 PTS | 9 REB | 6 AST | 48.8 FPS
Buzelis was highly efficient today, particularly from three-point range, knocking down 5-of-7 threes. This marks his second 28+ point game in his last four outings. While he has the ability to put up this kind of production, consistency has been a challenge. However, as long as he continues to start, he remains a dangerous threat for big scoring nights, including strong three-point shooting and solid rebounding performances.
Nikola Vucevic 25 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST | 45.3 FPS
Vucevic stepped up offensively today, recording his third 24+ point performance this month after a stretch of subpar scoring performances in his previous three games. He also maintained his typical rebounding output and has continued to make strides defensively in recent games.
Coby White 25 PTS | 11 REB | 2 AST | 37.2 FPS
White continues to perform at a high level on offense, scoring 24+ points in his last seven games—including three consecutive 35+ point outings. He has also made noticeable strides in other areas recently, delivering an elite passing performance in his most recent game and an impressive rebounding effort today. While maintaining such production may be challenging, he is expected to remain a key contributor in those areas. However, his scoring streak will face a tough test in the upcoming game against the Thunder.
Zach Collins 13 PTS | 7 REB | 2 AST | 23.4 FPS
Collins has seen a decline in his minutes recently, and that trend is likely to continue. However, he’s still managed to score in double digits in his last two games and may get more opportunities whenever Vucevic or Williams underperform or miss games.
Dalen Terry 8 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 22.0 FPS
Terry has seen an uptick in minutes in four of his last five games and has delivered some solid shooting performances. While he can contribute in rebounds and assists, his overall production still doesn’t warrant a spot on the roster at this time.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Josh Giddey 8 PTS | 8 REB | 4 TO
Giddey had been incredibly consistent this month until this contest. He struggled badly on the offensive end, marking his first single-digit scoring game after a run of 22+ points in five of his last six outings. His playmaking also took a hit, recording his second such performance after a string of elite assist games. On the bright side, his defensive effort remained solid. However, his production could remain stagnant with an upcoming game against his former team.
