The Dallas Mavericks returned to the floor after taking some rest last week due to the idiosyncratic scheduling of the Emirates NBA Cup. After a history-making night against the Warriors, the Mavs took on the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of two consecutive showdowns in Texas, with Dallas losing 118-95 without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving missing due to injury. The last time these teams met, the Mavericks won a first-round playoff series. A number of key players were missing from this game for both teams. Kawhi Leonard and Terrance Mann on the Clippers side joined Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks side. The return of Naji Marshall and Maxi Kleber is positive for the Mavs.

The game was close throughout the first half and neither team gained full control at any point. That trend continued in the third period until a long delay that resulted in Clipper Kris Dunn being sent off for a throat grab on Jazian Gorman. The Clippers then built a lead of as many as 16 points before the Mavs took a lead at the end of the quarter. Ultimately, the Mavs’ patchwork team couldn’t keep up and three minutes into the fourth quarter the reserves were there and this game was effectively over.

I’m rarely one to advocate moral victories and the like, but this game is a difficult one to get excited about. No Luka and no Kyrie could have easily been a complete disaster. If a few players had shot even slightly closer to average, this game would have been much closer and perhaps even played out differently. However, this is the kind of memorable game that could pay off in the long run, as a number of players got a certain feeling of fire that they wouldn’t otherwise have on a normal evening. Hopefully we finally see a fully healthy version of the Mavs for the rematch in a few nights.

Let’s get to the notes!

Spencer Dinwiddie: B-

19 points / 3 rebounds / 7 assists / 3 steals / 1 block / 1 turnover (37 minutes)

Dinwiddie was essentially the reason the Mavs reduced the deficit in the third quarter, but he shot poorly all night in a game where he was needed more than usual. Still, his importance is obvious, as is his intelligence. When the shots didn’t fall, he started driving, ended drives and/or got fouled. He was even dubbed “Real Difference Maker” during the Mavs’ home broadcast. He shared the ball and played very good defense, getting some steals and even a blocked shot.

Quentin Grimes: C+

11 points / 5 rebounds / 3 assists / 1 steal / 0 blocks / 1 turnover (28 minutes)

Grimes had a somewhat unconventional evening. He looked good in the first half, with active hands and some nice mid-range shots, but despite the lack of depth in coverage, he didn’t play much and never really found a shooting rhythm, even missing a layup in the fourth. He finished the game 3-8 and 1-4 on three-pointers. He had a terrible plus/minus of -22 and led the team in a category in which every player was in the negative.

Klay Thompson: A-

22 points / 3 rebounds / 3 assists / 2 steals / 0 blocks / 4 turnovers (29 minutes)

Thompson did it all, scoring over 19 points for the fourth straight game. He was the Mavs’ offensive catalyst, hitting threes, mid-range shots, drives and and-ones. If these last few games are a real sign of him having success with the Mavs, that’s cause for excitement for Mavs Nation. The only real blemishes on the night were his three-point conversion rate and too many turnovers. However, if he hadn’t done what he did, things would have gotten a lot uglier much sooner.

PJ Washington: B

14 points / 9 rebounds / 0 assists / 2 steals / 1 block / 2 turnovers (35 minutes)

Washington scored in double figures for the 11th straight game, marking the second-longest such streak of his career. He was his usual self, bringing a solid defensive presence and showing his follow-up play, although not as effectively as of late. He went 3-for-4 on threes, but somehow converted to 2-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Dereck Lively: A-

13 points / 7 rebounds / 2 assists / 0 steals / 3 blocks / 2 turnovers (28 minutes)

It doesn’t necessarily feel like Lively should be given such a high rating in such a strange game that essentially ended in a bust, but Lively did everything you’d expect of him. His grade is dropped because of too many fouls and because he hasn’t yet figured out how to be more effective defensively against the stronger and more experienced Ivica Zubac, despite facing him many times in his career. Otherwise, it was an extremely efficient and productive evening for Lively, highlighted by a nice reverse jam and three nice blocked shots.

Daniel Gafford: C

2 points / 4 rebounds / 2 assists / 0 steals / 0 blocks / 1 turnover (14 minutes)

Gafford had a very unusual evening of shooting. It’s hard to remember him missing a total of four shots in one game, let alone going 0-for-4 the entire game. In this writer’s humble opinion, he was fouled on three of those shots, resulting in his grade being no closer to the basement, but this one is best forgotten. The only bright spot was his ability to use his big body against the Clippers’ Zubac, but he didn’t get much time and didn’t contribute much to this game in the time he did get.

Naji Marshall: C+

9 points / 5 rebounds / 1 assist / 1 steal / 0 blocks / 1 turnover (24 minutes)

Marshall brings so much intangible (and tangible) value to the team. Having him on the field gives the Mavs another capable ballhandler and driver. Marshall had an insane pass to Dereck Lively, who finished with a reverse jam, a play that exemplified exactly what both players do every night. However, his shot was definitely off when he returned, especially in the first half (one miss was a desperate three-pointer from a few yards behind the line when he ended up with the hot potato as the shot clock expired). Things didn’t get much better in the second half, but I hope he gets back to form after a long absence.

Jazian Gortman: B

5 points / 1 rebound / 2 assists / 0 steals / 0 blocks / 1 turnover (10 minutes)

It remains difficult to rank Gotman as he remains largely an unknown quantity. However, he put up good statistics in just 10 minutes of play. More importantly, he looks like he belongs on the court. Many players of his age and experience seem to play at a different pace and/or with a frenetic energy, which doesn’t quite fit, but Gortman seems to fit in. He also kicked Kris Dunn in the face after Dunn grabbed him by the throat and squeezed him. For a guy who hasn’t seen much NBA action, that’s remarkable energy and poise, holding his own without escalating the situation.