The Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Atlanta Hawks in a challenging matchup, particularly for the Hawks who were expected to capitalize on the Mavs' depleted roster. Despite the absence of key players for Dallas, including Luka Doncic, the Mavericks emerged victorious, showcasing strong performances from their role players.
Kyrie Irving, who struggled early, exploded in the second half, scoring 22 of his 32 points. The Mavericks outscored the Hawks 68-52 in the second half, with Jaden Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Naji Marshall all contributing significantly. In contrast, the Hawks continued to struggle with their three-point shooting, a recurring theme this season.
Jalen Johnson was the standout for Atlanta, scoring 28 points, while Trae Young added a double-double. Despite a strong start, the Hawks could not maintain their lead and ultimately fell short, marking yet another disappointing loss in a season filled with them.
