ATLANTA – After a hard-fought 129-119 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks reflected on pulling off the victory and their ability to overcome adversity in postgame press conferences. Missing Luka Dončić, Klay Thompson, and losing Dereck Lively II midgame, the Mavericks leaned on Kyrie Irving’s fourth-quarter heroics and strong contributions from their supporting cast to secure the victory.
Head coach Jason Kidd highlighted the team’s resilience, particularly on the second night of a back-to-back.
“Sometimes you get caught up in a single game,” Kidd said. “But this is a marathon. A lot of guys stepped up tonight, starting with Kyrie, our leader. He didn’t start off well, but that just shows his basketball IQ and understanding that his moment would come.”
Despite playing through illness, Irving delivered in that moment, scoring 16 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The veteran guard said his mindset was to remain aggressive and trust his preparation.
“It’s about time some of those shots went in,” Irving said. “I missed some easy ones earlier, but you have to stay present and lean on the work you’ve put in. I’m just grateful to contribute to a big team win.”
Spencer Dinwiddie, who added 22 points and four assists, praised the team’s depth and focus.
“We’ve got a lot of talent,” Dinwiddie said. “Whether it’s Kyrie taking over or guys like Jaden and Naji stepping up, we trust each other to make plays. That’s what good teams do.”
Jaden Hardy, making his first start of the season, scored a season-high 23 points while filling in for Thompson.
“I wanted to step up for the team,” Hardy said. “They needed someone to play with pace, attack, and find open guys. That’s what I tried to bring tonight.”
The Mavericks return on Wednesday when they host the New York Knicks before embarking on a road back-to-back that begins in Salt Lake City and ends in Portland.
Video credit belongs to the Dallas Mavericks for post-game interviews.
Support DallasHoopsJournal.com
As an independent Dallas Mavericks reporter, it helps when you sign up for a premium membership to read my most in-depth content. The cost is $10 per month or $100 annually.
Follow on Other Platforms
For more Mavs, NBA, and WNBA coverage, follow Grant Afseth on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Be sure to subscribe on YouTube for content throughout the 2024-25 season.
Share
Share this post