By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photos: Charles “City” Gbadebo and Dorothy J. Gentry
Video: Dorothy J. Gentry
Christmas was not Christmas for the Dallas Mavericks as they not only lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-99 at home in a marquee, nationally televised Christmas Day game; but they also lost star Luka Dončić for the foreseeable future.
Dončić went down with 2:31 left before the half in a non-contact injury. He was diagnosed with a left calf strain and would not return to the game. It was later reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania that Doncic left American Airlines Center on crutches, will have an MRI on Thursday and the team is bracing for him to miss an extended period of time.
“We’re praying for Luka to have a speedy recovery,” said Kyrie Irving after the game. “However long the timetable is, we’re going to have to adjust. It’s just the nature of the business. Hopefully he’ll take his time, come back when he’s ready.
“Just a crazy play…and on a holiday like this…we just gotta be mature about it and be ready to adjust the lineups.”
The 19-11 Mavs (4th in the Western conference) woke up on Christmas morning on a two-game win streak – including a 132-108-win Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Meanwhile the Timberwolves looked to snap a three-game losing streak – and they did; effectively serving as the grinches who stole the Mavs’ Christmas.
Irving led the Mavericks with 39 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Before exiting the game with his injury, Dončić had 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Klay Thompson added 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Quentin Grimes had 10 points.
The Mavs made it a game the whole first half but it was a battle during the third quarter between the two teams, but the Timberwolves prevailed taking a 90-69 lead at the end of the third quarter. But all was not lost as the Mavs – behind Irving’s 15 points in the fourth quarter alone -rallied all the way back using a 29-7 run to cut the Timberwolves’ lead to 3 but the final shots wouldn’t go in and they lost.
The Timberwolves were led by Anthony Edwards (26 points, eight boards), Dallas native Julius Randle (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (14 points, 10 boards). Also for the Timberwolves, Donte DiVincenzo had 11 points and Mike Conley finished with 10 points.
Head Coach Jason Kidd knew going in that the team would have a challenge in slowing down Edwards who is quickly becoming a face of the NBA and who was a member of the United States team that won the gold medal in the Olympics in Paris.
“I think spending time with Team USA has helped him,” Kidd said. “When you get to play with the best, you learn from the best, and he’s one of the young talented players in this league. You can see his game is growing. He works extremely hard at it.”
Klay Thompson Makes History
Despite the loss, there was a bright spot for the Mavs as Klay Thompson passed Reggie Miller for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time list for three-pointers made. Thompson made NBA history by moving to fifth place with 2,561 made three-pointers.
Thompson trailed the legendary shooter Miller by two three-pointers going into the game. He passed him mid-way through the fourth quarter then added another three-pointer late in the game and now has 2,562.
“I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present,” Thompson said. “It’s obviously a dream come true and I’m going to celebrate tonight because you just think of all the hours you spent shooting and all the shots you’ve gotten up in your lifetime and to pass an icon like Reggie is super-surreal, especially being a ‘90s baby. I watched him hit so many game-winners, battle against the best that ever played and leave it all out on the floor.”
Thompson said he will keep the basketball he used to score the record-setting three pointer, but will likely give his game-worn jersey to Miller, “because he meant that much to me growing up.”
The Christmas Day game was the last for 2024 for the team as they head out on a 4-game road trip. Their next home game will be Thursday, Jan. 3, 2025 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Outgoing Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall Honored
Cynt Marshall, the Mavs’ CEO for the last 7 years, was honored during an in-game timeout with a jersey and special tribute video including special messages from Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban and others.
Marshall is retiring effective Dec. 31 but will remain as a Mavs ambassador.
