Apparently there is an outside chance Maxi Kleber might return if we get to the West finals

Definitely the weirdest start to a press conference I’ve ever experienced 😂 pic.twitter.com/xTDIljvoNL

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) May 10, 2024

Dallas Mavericks Game 4 Injury Report vs. OKC Thunder

Luka Doncic - questionable (right knee sprain; left ankle soreness)
Maxi Kleber - out (right shoulder; AC separation)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper - out (left ankle sprain)

ESPN with a 59.1% in favor of Dallas tonight

Dallas blows a couple of nice leads and loses game 4 to OKC; huge run at the end of the fourth does them in. Series tied 2-2. Luka misses a free throw at the end to tie it up. Bad game at the free throw line

Fighting Adam Flaglers - 2
Luka's bum knee - 2

Turning out to be a great series. Nail biters all the way. Thunder in these recent games have seem completely out matched but somehow stick around. The experience, or lack there of, really showed for most of the game tonight. Buckle up for this now best of 3 series.

im distraught

All the Mavs had to do was shoot a measly 60% from the FT line and they win.

As it stands, you got double whammy Luka...super hurt, and even more annoyed w/ the officiating than normal. Not a good combo. And unfortunately, Kyrie didn't swoop in to close out the game this time.

Very odd game. As a Mavs fan, that felt like a slow, painful death. You could just sense okc was gonna make the Mavs pay for not delivering a killing blow...which they had plenty of chances to do.

Hotsauce said:

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All the Mavs had to do was shoot a measly 60% from the FT line and they win.

As it stands, you got double whammy Luka...super hurt, and even more annoyed w/ the officiating than normal. Not a good combo. And unfortunately, Kyrie didn't swoop in to close out the game this time.

Very odd game. As a Mavs fan, that felt like a slow, painful death. You could just sense okc was gonna make the Mavs pay for not delivering a killing blow...which they had plenty of chances to do.

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good summary. Very winnable game. Dreaded seeing us go to the FT line after a while. Gabbard looked really uncomfortable there. And Luka missing the first of two FTs at the end was a dagger

everyone knew he was missing one too lol

How bout those Mavs! Take game 5 of the series to go up 3-2. Looking good over the #1 seed. BTW - watched the Celtic game. If they take the East, I like our chances if we can take the West. Game 6 is Saturday

Luka looked like he was feeling no pain!

job aint finished, one more to go

mavsfan41 said:

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job aint finished, one more to go

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Saturday night's alright for fighting!

RealGM Wiretap
Luka Doncic: This Team Is Special
MAY 16, 2024 2:42 PM

After missing the playoffs in 2023, the Dallas Mavericks reshaped their roster and are one win away from returning to the Western Conference Finals. There were fears that Luka Doncic could request a trade as early as the 2024 offseason if significant improvement didn't occur and those concerns now appear to be put to rest.
Dallas remade their roster over the past 15 months with trades for Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, while also drafting Dereck Lively II and signing Derrick Jones Jr.
"This team is special," Doncic said. "We've only been together for what, five months, and I'm having a lot of fun with this team."
Doncic will be eligible to sign a supermax extension with the Mavericks during the 2025 offseason.
TIM MACMAHON/ESPN

Getting amped up!

Maxi Kleber is still out but has a possible May 25 return. Prosper is coming along, could come back before the Finals if we make it

Heck of a game 6. Dallas kept digging these huge holes. Not sure how they got out of them either. Solid game by the rookie Lively. Will be run to see him next year after he has an off season with the Dallas off season program.
Dallas pulls this one out of it's arse! Takes the series
One extra day of rest vs the winner of tomorrows West semi. Doncic's knees can use them

In the end, Dallas had a far greater supporting cast than OKC. Outside of Jalen Williams, OKC didn't have much scoring they could rely on especially in crunch time. I think the same roster could be even better next year with the experience under their belt, though.

Meanwhile, PJ and DJJ are hitting huge threes, and Gafford and Lively are combining to at least equal what Chet Holgrem does. That's a lot of firepower for when Luka and Kyrie are forced, or decide, to defer on offense.

I'm not sure who I prefer in the WCF, but I think I'm leaning Denver.

good job, los mavs!

- el kkm

{ tomando cafe }

{ comiendo donuto }

viva los osos!

Hotsauce said:

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In the end, Dallas had a far greater supporting cast than OKC. Outside of Jalen Williams, OKC didn't have much scoring they could rely on especially in crunch time. I think the same roster could be even better next year with the experience under their belt, though.

Meanwhile, PJ and DJJ are hitting huge threes, and Gafford and Lively are combining to at least equal what Chet Holgrem does. That's a lot of firepower for when Luka and Kyrie are forced, or decide, to defer on offense.

I'm not sure who I prefer in the WCF, but I think I'm leaning Denver.

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We probably want Minnesota to win in terms of matchup from what I am hearing on ESPN. I really dont care. Either way its gonna be fun!

BTW - what an incredible couple of trades. The one that got Gafford was HUGE. Lively is solid and I will love to see him after an offseason with our staff but Gafford is such a solid piece in the middle until Lively gets there

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on what they mean to each other:

Doncic: “Nothing but supportive of everything I did…Just helped me mature a lot, realize to see the game in a different way, and obviously on the court it’s amazing to play with a guy like him…The leader he’s been… pic.twitter.com/QdZAaXBPEZ

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) May 19, 2024

This other game is pretty good. Minnehaha came back from a deep hole to lead right now wth 8 mins left. I think we match up better with them. But its a 2 pt game right now

Minnesota knocks off the defending NBA champ Nuggets. Came back from a deep hole to win...Will be a great West FInal

Dallas vs Minn Game 1 on Wednesday, 730

Season series vs. Timberwolves (Minnesota won 3-1)... *** NOTE *** all these games were before Dallas made the trade to bring Daniel Gafford into the fold.

Dec. 14: Timberwolves 119, Mavericks 101
With Kyrie Irving out of the lineup, Luka Doncic and the Mavericks weren't able to keep pace with the Timberwolves. Doncic scored 39 points to go with 13 assists, six rebounds and two steals. While Anthony Edwards struggled with nine points on 3-for-19 shooting, Dallas had no answer for Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid. Towns and Reid combined to score 48 points on 16-for-28 shooting.

Dec. 28: Timberwolves 118, Mavericks 110
Playing without Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks were competitive, but didn't have enough offensive firepower. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way with 32 points off the bench. After struggling in their first matchup, Edwards had 44 points on 12-for-23 shooting.

Jan. 7: Mavericks 115, Timberwolves 108
In their only matchup together against the Timberwolves, Doncic and Irving combined for 69 points to lead the Mavericks to the win. Edwards had a 36-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Timberwolves.

Jan. 31: Timberwolves 121, Mavericks 87
The depleted Mavericks without Doncic and Irving kept the game close in the first half before Minnesota pulled away for the blowout win. Towns scored 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting to go with nine rebounds and four assists.

May 22 (Wed.)
Game 1: Mavericks at Minnesota
7:30 p.m.
TNT

May 24 (Fri.)
Game 2: Mavericks at Minnesota
7:30 p.m.
TNT

May 26 (Sun.)
Game 3: Minnesota at Mavericks
7 p.m.
TNT

May 28 (Tues.)
Game 4: Minnesota at Mavericks
7:30 p.m.
TNT

May 30 (Thurs.)
Game 5: Mavericks at Minnesota*
7:30 p.m.
TNT

June 1 (Sat.)
Game 6: Minnesota at Mavericks*
7:30 p.m.
TNT

June 3 (Mon.)
Game 7: Mavericks at Minnesota*
7:30 p.m.
TNT

Strong possiblity that Maxi Kleber returns for the series. Will be good to get another big man that can play with the twin Wolves bigs.

The NBA has announced its 23-24 All-Rookie Teams headlined by Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren as unanimous selections. Brandon Miller received 97 out of 99 votes.
First Team
Victor Wembanyama
Chet Holmgren
Brandon Miller
Jaime Jaques Jr.
Brandin Podziemski

Second Team
Keyonte George
GG Jackson II
Dereck Lively II
Amen Thompson
Cason Wallace

The three highest-scoring playoff games of Derrick Jones Jr.'s career:

1. Game 6 vs. OKC (22 points)
2. Game 5 vs. OKC (19 points)
3. Game 4 vs. OKC (17 points)

He'd never even reached double digits in any playoff game before this year.

— Zach Kram (@zachkram) May 19, 2024

the Mavs look set for a multi-year run. Doni is 25 and can sign a gargantuan extension this summer. Washington and Gafford are 25, Josh Green is 23, and rookie Dereck Lively II the Tyson Chandler clone who was the reward for last spring's tank job is just 20. All are signed through 2026.

Irving is 32, yes, and his next contract could be tricky (he has a player option after next season). But Dallas has a relatively clean cap sheet beyond 2025 and could even be a cap-room player in 2026 before Lively comes up for an extension.

What a game. We owned the paint... I did not see that coming. Luka was OFF during the first three quarters. Finally got hot in the fourth. Grabbed home court away from the Wolves. Nice game by Kyrie. Good to have two primo shooters on your team!

BTW - all the experts picked the Wolves to take this series. Liking our chances!

Mavs shooting so poorly from three and still winning has to be concerning for the Wolves.

Very nice to see the improved FT shooting.

Hotsauce said:

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Mavs shooting so poorly from three and still winning has to be concerning for the Wolves.

Very nice to see the improved FT shooting.

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And the Wolves hot shooting 3's will not continue. An aberration!

Luka at 13 https://peakd.com/luka/@clempo/goosebumps-he-played-against-luka-doncic-7-years-ago-and-now-he-has-shaken-italy-with-his-confession-and-photo