NBA: OT thriller! Mavs play for strong Doncic to win at Spurs

The Dallas Mavericks have suffered a bitter defeat at the San Antonio Spurs after extra time. Dennis Smith Jr. awarded a free-throw seconds before the end of the regular playing time, which could have decided the game. In overtime DeMar DeRozan became match winner, Luka Doncic’s strong performance was useless. The Spurs won with 113:108 (BOXSCORE).

Dennis Smith Jr. had it in his own hands. 2.5 seconds before the end, the playmaker was fouled at 101:102 from Mavs’s point of view during the jump throw and could decide the game at the line. The first attempt sat, but the second rolled out again. The Spurs still had a chance, but DeMar DeRozan’s attempt from the baseline was clearly too short.

DeRozan had previously led the Spurs from the line after Smith had hit a heavy stepback threesome. During the match, the Spurs had gone back and forth, but with the exception of the second quarter, the Spurs had a constant lead.

The guests had problems with a lot of unnecessary ball losses, some of them also in the Crunchtime. In halftime two, Luka Doncic and Harrison Barnes brought the Mavs back into the game, however, while Spurs DeRozan were the ones to get the coal out of the fire most of the time.

In extra time both teams didn’t want to succeed much at first. The Mavs even had almost four minutes without points, while DeRozan and Rudy Gay gave the Spurs a five-point lead. Doncic and Barnes shortened again, but DeRozan had the right answer again. The Shooting Guard finally put the lid on with a jumper 10,8 seconds before the end.

The ex-Raptors-Guard was the best man of the Spurs with 34 points (12/21 FG) and 9 assists, while LaMarcus Aldridge (18, 6/17 FG) had big problems this time. For Dallas, Doncic recorded a new career high (31, 11/17 FG, 6 TO), with only Smith (22) and Barnes (18) scoring double-digit points.

DeAndre Jordan (8) grabbed 18 rebounds, while Maxi Kleber (0, 0/4 FG, 4 rebounds) had no influence. This was also true for Jakob Pöltl, who was not involved.