The Dallas Mavericks had a rough night on Monday in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns.
Everyone knew the Suns would be a tough opponent for the Mavericks.
There is a reason that they’re statistically the best team in the league.
While the team fell to the Suns, 121-114, there were some things to be proud of.
Take Luka Doncic, for example, who scored 45 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Jason Kidd said Luka Doncic “got whatever he wanted” during his 45-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist performance. “We’ve just got to get someone to join the party,” Kidd said. Doncic outscored the rest of the Mavs’ starters.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 3, 2022
Now, if only the team could have a few other scorers coming close to his output.
Head coach Jason Kidd commented on Doncic’s night after the game.
Kidd said that Doncic “got whatever he wanted” throughout the game but added, “we’ve just got to get someone to join the party.”
Who is Dallas’ best option to “join the party”?
Dallas Needing Doncic
The Mavericks would have been destroyed if Doncic didn’t play on Monday night.
His 45 points are astonishing, especially in the highly competitive playoffs.
It’s great to see this young player finally making an impact in the postseason.
However, Kidd is right: he does need help.
The most logical choice for another point maker would be Jalen Brunson, who has been averaging 25.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4 assists during these playoffs.
However, Brunson had issues on Monday night, scoring 13 points and receiving four personal fouls.
In other words, he wasn’t the version of Brunson the team needed.
Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Spencer Dinwiddie are other options for the team.
But their numbers were also pretty poor on Monday: 7, 15, and 8 respectively.
The second-best scorer for Dallas on Monday night was a bit surprising actually: Maxi Kleber put up 19 points in 24 minutes.
In Game 2, everyone will need to step up.
Doncic is becoming a legendary player but he cannot do this all on his own.
NEXT: Luka Doncic Matched An NBA Legend With His Game 1 Performance