3 takeaways: Dallas Mavericks defeat the Toronto Raptors, 111-110

The Dallas Mavericks (5-3) held off the Toronto Raptors (5-4) at home Friday night, 111-110. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 35 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. O.G. Anunoby scored 27 in defeat for the Raptors.

A massive Toronto Raptors line up greeted a revised Dallas Mavericks starting five. Toronto ran early, getting transition baskets and second chance points. Luka Doncic patiently worked his way into the game, driving and kicking for good looks. A back and forth affair for the entire period, the teams traded baskets throughout. Second chance points for Toronto kept them in it, while Luka Doncic’s 14 points powered Dallas. A late steal and lay in from Josh Green gave Dallas a 31-29 lead after twelve minutes of action.

With Luka Doncic getting his regular rest to start the second quarter, the remixed bench unit for the Mavericks made quite the impression. The Mavericks matched the Raptor’s length and energy and opted to push the pace with fantastic defense. Christian Wood and JaVale McGee helped Dallas slowly build up an eight point lead midway through the quarter. Threes helped the Raptors eliminate that lead quickly, but with the return of Luka Doncic the Mavericks extended the lead through threes of their own, including two from Spencer Dinwiddie. Dallas held a 62-57 lead at the half.

The second half began with a brutal stretch of turnovers for the Raptors, three straight offensive fouls. That, paired with an active Dallas defense (Luka had three steals and a block) resulted in the Mavericks building up a 19 point lead midway through the frame. Toronto wasn’t ready to quit and kept the pressure on Dallas. A Luka Doncic technical, following a bad reach call, pulled the Raptors within 11 with two minutes to go. But a Christian Wood three, a Luka Doncic jumper, and a Wood dunk helped give Dallas an authoritative 96-81 lead heading into the fourth.

In a stark role reversal, the Mavericks started the fourth turning the ball over repeatedly and specifically through called offensive fouls. The Raptors cut the lead to single digits with nine minutes remaining before a Christian Wood oop to Maxi Kleber finally put the Mavericks on the board in quarter four. Luka Doncic returned earlier than usual to try to stem the tide, but the Raptors would not go quietly, even with Pascal Siakam ruled out with a groin injury, cutting the lead all the way down to three. A Luka Doncic step back and a multi-shot possession Dallas which ate up a ton of clock gave Dallas enough breathing room to hold Toronto off. Following a free throw shooting contest and a last second O.G. Anunoby three, Dallas holds off Toronto 111-110.

Now, some thoughts

Trust in the team

Considering how Luka Doncic heavy the Mavericks are as a team, one might forgive me for leading with his stellar offensive play once again. Instead, willingness to trust his teammates is perhaps the key offensive element in why the Mavericks won this barnburner of a game.

In…