Doncic and Irving are getting closer and better, and their off-peak scoring has also become the key to the Mavericks' harvest game, and if the two maintain this style of play, then the Mavericks will undoubtedly become the biggest dark horse team in the Western Conference playoffs this season. On April 11, 2024, Beijing time, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 111-92. Doncic had 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Irving had 25 points, three rebounds and four assists.
With both offensive firepower and defensive toughness, the Mavericks and Heat are now guaranteed a playoff spot, but victory is equally important for both teams. A win for the Mavericks would further cement the fifth place in the West and they would be able to secure the Southwest Division title. The Heat still have a chance to finish sixth in the East, and both teams will leave no stone unturned. The Heat took the lead through defensive counterattacks at the beginning, but the Mavericks played unhurriedly, looking for scoring opportunities by constantly passing the ball, Doncic and Irving took turns to play individual singles, especially Doncic, who blossomed one after another outside the three-point line, scoring 10 points in less than half a quarter to help the Mavericks quickly overtake the score. Herro faced Doncic's defense, held the ball and shook the opponent to make a shooting foul, which was very similar to Doncic's usual way of making fouls. Doncic didn't make any waves after being singled out by Herro, hitting a three-pointer after counterattacking with the ball, and continued to show his offensive firepower.
Compared to the offense, Doncic was targeted by the Heat on the defensive end, and he soon received three fouls and had to go to rest. Fortunately, the Mavericks are no longer afraid of Doncic's rest, and Irving stepped up and used the breakthrough to score consecutive points, and soon helped the Mavericks establish a 9-point lead. Although the Heat hit a three-pointer by Love, Irving then responded from outside the three-point line, and Hardaway Jr. also hit a jumper, and the Mavericks continued to widen the difference. Doncic and Irving's cooperation into the tacit understanding, the two quickly dismantled after the demolition, Doncic quickly passed the ball to Irving who threw the vacant position, Irving hit a three-pointer, and before the second quarter was halfway through, Irving alone scored 18 points. Herro's throws did not pose a real threat to the Mavericks, and Doncic used the pass to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, and the Mavericks' point gap widened, leading the Heat by as many as 25 points at most.
Yibian fought again, and the Mavericks, who had a 22-point lead, firmly controlled the situation on the court. The Heat tried to fight back, but the turnovers increased, and even as the Mavericks' shooting percentage began to decline, the Heat still couldn't catch up with the point difference. Gafford gave Jovic a big hat and Jones hit a three-pointer on the counter-attack. Doncic misplaced Adebayo, he did not choose to break through, but dribbled and stepped back to score a three-pointer, which also showed Doncic's confidence on the offensive end. Love's misplaced offense began to show its strengths, as he first sprinted inside to score a strong shot and then hit a three-pointer from the corner. When the Mavericks scored 2 points, Love hit another shot from beyond the three-point line, and one person scored 8 points in a row. Love's individual offense disrupted the Mavericks' rhythm while protecting the rebound, and Butler hit a mid-range shot to cut the gap to 15 points.
The Heat's tenacity put pressure on the Mavericks, and they were also affected by their mentality after the start of the fourth quarter, and the Heat narrowed the gap to 8 points. Fortunately, this season's Mavericks became more resilient in the game, Gafford made a strong attack under the basket, Jones caused a foul and hit one of two free throws, and the Mavericks temporarily stabilized the situation. With Doncic making back-to-back fouls, the Mavericks extended their lead back to double digits. After that, the Heat had no intention of chasing points, and finally the Mavericks defeated the Heat on the road and won five in a row.