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3 things we learned in the Mavericks' 117-116 win over the Kings

ALL HAIL DERON WILLIAMS.

By Danny Webster
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Deron freaking Williams. That's all that needs to be said.

On a night where Rajon Rondo made his return to Dallas, although he didn't play, it was the Dallas Mavericks' newest point guard hitting the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Dallas a 117-116 double-overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Somehow, someway the Mavericks stormed back down seven points with 1:20 to play and won this game on divine intervention in ways that can't be explained. Dirk Nowitzki hit a clutch three with 26 seconds to play to cut the lead to within two, the Mavericks don't foul, Darren Collison airballs a mid-range jumper, setting the stage for this.

Let's talk about what we've learned. Because there was a lot.

Deron Williams won the game not once, but twice.

Shades of Vince Carter's game-winner against the San Antonio Spurs two years ago, D-Will's game-winning three wasn't the game winner we should be talking about.

It was the first one, at the end of regulation. A layup with just over two seconds to go gave Dallas a 98-96 lead, and should've been the winning shot.

But, then for some reason unbeknownst to us all, DeMarcus Cousins bullied his way through Zaza Pachulia, on his way to the basket for a game-tying layup to send the game into overtime.

It shouldn't have gotten to this point, but D-Will can still get the job done. It's official that Rick Carlisle is convinced that Williams is the closer in late-game situations. He proved it not once, but twice, and twice was just as nice. Everyone bow down before the greatness that is Deron Williams.

The Mavs can't stop All-Star big men. DeMarcus Cousins killed them.

We have to come back down a bit and talk about Boogie.

If you thought what Anthony Davis did to Dallas a couple of nights ago was insane, wait until you check the box score and see Cousins' stat line of 35 points, 17 rebounds, six steals and four assists.

Boogie grooved some more in double overtime, scoring nine of those 35 points, which included seven straight for the Kings to extend the lead.

This is going to be a problem for the Mavs going forward. Dealing with these big men that can stretch the floor has been an issue once before, but with Pachulia's defensive limitations it becomes an eye sore on the floor. JaVale McGee was the only one to show some sort of life against Sacramento (more on him in a bit), and the last thing you want is McGee stepping away from the rim.

Dallas is lucky to finally get a win in 2016, but these won't be normal occurrences if they can't get better defensive production from the bigs.

JaVale McGee is Da God

This is the JaVale Dallas has been hoping and praying for. The Mavericks have been wanting the God-like version of McGee, and they got it against the Kings.

But why in the world didn't he close the game?

McGee only played 16 minutes off the bench, but boy, was he ever a thorn in the side of DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings' front court? His athleticism at both ends of the floor was a huge advantage for the Mavericks in the second half, and McGee showed what kind of player he can be when healthy and given minutes.

Plus, he can do things like this. Good lord, that's some serious skill.

But for him not to be on the floor when Cousins sent the game into overtime, bullying Zaza Pachulia for an easy layup as time expired, was baffling. For as much as we love Rick Carlisle, one flaw of his is not knowing when he has a good thing going. McGee should've closed. This game shouldn't have gone to overtime, and it wouldn't have if McGee was the one taking Cousins one-on-one at the end of regulation.

No need to put him on Shaqtin' A Fool this week. JaVale was every bit of the guy the Mavs have wanted him to be.

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Deron Williams beats Kings at buzzer after wild double-OT comeback

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