The Dallas Mavericks took a beating early Friday morning, getting routed 135-117 by the Houston Rockets in Macao. It was their first of two games in the NBA China Preseason miniseries, and it immediately highlighted some familiar offensive struggles from last season for the Mavs. With key players like Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, Santi Aldama, PJ Washington, Marcus Sasser, and Caleb Martin all held out, Dallas definitely had their work cut out for them.
Daniel Gafford’s Shocking Three-Pointer Signals a New Era
Amidst the blowout, Daniel Gafford pulled off the most unexpected play of the game. Before Friday, this man had attempted exactly one career three-pointer. ONE! Then, to everyone’s surprise (maybe not his new coach, though), he drained a spot-up three off a kick-out from Sergio de Larrea in the first quarter. This isn’t just a random shot, folks, it’s a direct result of head coach Dusty May challenging Gafford to expand his game and “earn the right” to take those shots.
Gafford only saw eight minutes of action, finishing with seven points, three rebounds, and one steal. While the Mavs definitely need more rebounding from him, especially with Lively having no timetable to return, seeing that growth in his offensive game is a pleasant surprise. It tells you everything about what May is trying to build here: a new look for Dallas.
Dwight Powell’s Unsung Heroics and the Three-Point Conundrum
Talk about a unique stat line! Dwight Powell finished with just one point and one rebound, but he dropped a whopping eight assists. That’s not only a career-high for him in the regular season, but he matched it today and led the Mavericks in that category. Powell is the longest-tenured Maverick, and his leadership and professionalism make him a valuable veteran presence. If he keeps contributing like this in the preseason, the Mavs absolutely have to consider him for that final roster spot.
But beyond individual surprises, the team’s overall three-point shooting was a massive issue. The Mavericks shot a cold 35% from deep compared to the Rockets’ red-hot 50%. That massive discrepancy dug them into a hole they just couldn’t climb out of. The glimmer of hope? Dallas actually hoisted 51 threes, which is 20 more than their average attempts per game last season! They’re willing shooters under May’s system, which is a good sign, but those shots simply have to start falling at a much higher clip, or this three-point disparity is gonna be a massive problem all season long.
The Mavs still have one more game against the Rockets in Macao to try and figure some things out. With key players like Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively still sidelined with no timetable to return, they desperately need to see those 51 threes start dropping at a much higher clip. Will Dusty May’s system show some serious promise in game two, or will the shooting woes be the story again? We’re all watching to see if Dallas can turn this around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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