Green Doncic’s sidekick as Mavs pip GSW
Murray Wenzel |
Josh Green’s stocks have risen again, the Australian helping Dallas hold off Golden State to end a four-game NBA losing streak.
The 22-year-old, who was a rarely-used piece of the Boomers’ bronze medal campaign at last year’s Olympics, scored 13 points on 71 per cent shooting in the Mavericks’ 116-113 home victory.
Green threw an incredible assist in the first half, drove to the basket for a crucial, tough lay-up inside the last minute and remained on court for the final play of the game.
Guarding Klay Thompson on the final play, Green was squeezed behind Draymond Green and lost the shooter when the Warriors ran a misdirection play.
Thompson had an open look but his shot bounced off the rim, his miss a fifth from six three-point attempts for the night.
“I was scared, I’m not going to lie,” Luka Doncic said of Thompson’s final shot.
“It’s Klay. He don’t miss many open shots. I was happy.”
Green played 27 minutes against Golden State and is averaging 48.7 per cent from long range after going three-from-five on Wednesday (AEDT).
His form is demanding a case for a starting role in a Boomers team likely to be stacked with NBA talent at next year’s World Cup.
Doncic won the scoring duel over Stephen Curry, the Mavs’ star finishing with a game-high 41 points as part of a triple-double, the 51st of his career, that included 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
He hit a 14-foot jumper that extended a one-point lead – they had led by as many as 17 – to 115-112 with 59 seconds remaining.
“It’s getting boring,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd quipped.
“I mean, let’s see something different. Maybe do it with his left hand.”
Curry, who led the Warriors with 32 points, hit a free throw six seconds later, but was called for a controversial travelling violation while lining up a potential go-ahead three-point attempt with 10.1 seconds left.
In Portland, Norman Powell scored 22 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and Reggie Jackson added 24 points and 12 assists to steer the Los Angeles Clippers to a 118-110 victory against the Trail Blazers.
Portland wasted a terrific performance by Anfernee Simons, who made nine triples and scored 37 points, while Jerami Grant had 32.
Earlier in Detroit, Julius Randle scored a season-high 36 points as the New York Knicks extended their win streak against the Pistons to 11 games.
Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson each had 16 points in the 140-110 triumph for New York, who had lost four of five.
AAP
