Doncic is out of the squad due to injury
After the All-Star, the Minnesota Timberwolves played an unparalleled dominance, but they still lost against the Dallas Lone Rangers. It has to be said that this season's lone ranger has ushered in a metamorphosis, Kidd's arrival has injected defense into this team, and the trade of Porzingis has allowed them to get Dinwiddie, a perfect second boss with a big heart. Doncic is also on the path of James Harden, and there is nothing in the data column that he can't do.
In this game, the Lone Ranger was challenged at home by the Houston Rockets, the penultimate team in the West. Kidd decisively took doncic off on the grounds of injury. However, the Houston Rockets just ended the losing streak in the last game, Wood played an extraordinary personal performance, three-point shooting 9 8, so this game against the Lone Ranger, Wood can continue this magic?
Dinwiddie is in charge
At the beginning of the first quarter, the Lone Ranger showed excellent defense, Wood only had 1 shot, did not score, Porter Jr. had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 1-of-4 shooting, and the Rockets only scored 21 points in the first quarter, but fortunately the Lone Ranger's offense was not ideal, and only scored 25 points, of which Dinwiddie had 11 points and 1 assist on 3-of-3 shooting, and Brunson had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. After returning from the second quarter, the Rockets gradually returned to their form, Sagu had 7 points and 6 rebounds, Schroder also scored 7 points, and the team scored 32 points in a single quarter.
In the face of the Rockets' sudden rise, Dinwiddie scored eight more points, 1 rebound and 3 assists to help the team trail the Rockets by just one point at the end of halftime, 52-53. In the second half, the Rockets suddenly fell into a scoring drought, only 19 points in a single quarter, the Lone Ranger seized the opportunity, Brunson shot 5 of 6, 7 of 6 free throws, did not have a three-pointer, and bombed 16 points and 2 rebounds in a single quarter, which was simply unstoppable. Under Brunson's leadership, the Lone Ranger scored 30 points and managed to take a 10-point lead into the final quarter.
After returning from the last quarter, the Rockets still did not find their touch, Wood did not continue the magic of the last game, and the team still only scored 19 points in a single quarter. The Lone Ranger played steadily, with Dinwiddie scoring seven points, two rebounds and one steal on 3-of-4 shooting, and Nilikina on the bench had 11 points, two rebounds and three assists. In the end, the Dallas Mavericks won 110-91 at home against the Houston Rockets and successfully won two consecutive games.
The Rockets lost by 19 points
The Houston Rockets lost the game again, a 19-point fiasco, and there was not much to fight back, Wood failed to continue the magic of the previous game, only 12 points and 10 rebounds in 4 of 10 shots, Green was 11 shots and 3 shots, only 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Porter Jr. had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, and Sagu on the bench was 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, which was the best player in the rocket performance in this game. Schroeder also had 11 points and one assist on 3-of-6 shooting, and Christopher had 11 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist.
Without Doncic, Dinwiddie once again proved that he could be in charge. In fact, at the Brooklyn Nets, he proved it. Dinwiddie shot 8-of-13 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range, and had 26 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. It can be said that the Porzingis transaction, the Lone Ranger is a perfect success. Doncic is there, he is the perfect second boss, Doncic is not there, he can also lead the team to win. Brunson also had 28 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Powell 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Smith 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.