The Dallas Mavericks have just won the second China Game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the preseason. Luka Doncic is the favourite of the Mavericks – while on the other side Joel Embiid is responsible for many highlights.
As in the first duel between the Sixers and Mavs in China, Dallas had to do without Dirk Nowitzki, DeAndre Jordan and Harrison Barnes – and as in the first duel, both teams did not take defence too seriously. The Sixers in particular enchanted the fans in Shenzhen with some very spectacular dunks. First and foremost Joel Embiid, who scored 29 points and 7 rebounds and had a lot of fun against the thinned out Mavs frontcourt in the post.
The first minutes of the game belonged to Luka Doncic. The Mavs-Rookie put three three players in the basket in the first five minutes and delivered a total of 15 points (4/8 FG), 5 assists and 4 rebounds, but also 4 ball losses. Dennis Smith scored 10 points and 5 assists, but also threw the ball with some wild passes five times out or to the opponent.
Also striking in the Mavs were J.J. Barea (14 points), Dwight Powell (10) as well as Rookie Jalen Brunson (11), Ryan Broekhoff (9) and also Maxi Kleber from the bench: The German got 7 points and rebounds this time in 22 minutes and delivered 2 assists, rebounds and blocks each. He also sold out against Embiid a few times, although the Cameroonian won most of the duels.
In the end, however, neither Embiid nor Kleber had much to do with the outcome of the game, and the final minutes of the tight game were played by the bench players at the back of the game. Markelle Fultz even had an especially early closing time.
The No.1 pick of 2017 started again next to Simmons (10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) in the backcourt, but it was not his day. In only 19:18 minutes he got 6 points, 4 turnovers and 6 fouls, so he was out of the game. With Robert Covington (18 points) and J.J. Redick (10) things went a little better.