Stats rundown: 3 numbers to know after the Mavericks fall to the Spurs

On the first night of a back-to-back, the Dallas Mavericks failed to handle business on the front end, losing 119-117 to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, losers of five straight coming into Sunday’s game, propelled past the Mavericks in the third quarter and never looked back. On the cusp of a desperation comeback attempt, DeMar DeRozan slammed the door shut by burying a jumper with half a second left to win the game.

Here are a few numbers to know:

1: The number of times Kristaps Porzingis has recorded a 20-point, 10-rebound half IN HIS CAREER

First, on the positive side, Porzingis was a force for the second consecutive game. He carried the scoring load in the first quarter and it turned into a dominant first half, which has become a bit of a trend over the past few games:

Porzingis slowed down in the second half, partly (foolishly?) by design, but he finished the game with 31 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. He was instrumental on the glass, as the only Maverick with double-digit rebounds, limiting the Spurs to single-shot possessions and picking up a few second chance points himself.

Porzingis fouled out on a silly shot-block attempt from behind with just over a minute remaining and his team down three, but overall he played a fantastic game.

27: The number of points DeRozan scored in the second half

Heading into the break, the Spurs’ guard was sitting on six points, which seemed strange given DeRozan’s dominance over the Mavericks historically. However, after 15 third-quarter points, DeRozan was well on his way to torturing the Mavericks with a steady diet of mid-range jumpers and layups. With 31 points and the ball in his hands, DeRozan scored the game’s biggest and last bucket which put the Spurs ahead with less than a second remaining, bringing his scoring output to 33.

He was truly dominant in the second half, and Rick Carlisle’s decision not to force the ball out of his hands is a little head scratching. DeRozan has now scored 29, 30 and 33 points against the Mavericks this season. They have no answer for him.

0: The number of made baskets by Tim Hardaway Jr.

And that’s probably the most telling number of the game. The Mavericks just don’t have the horses to withstand a dud from Hardaway, even with Porzingis and Luka Doncic combining for 60. Hardaway was also a team-worst minus-17 and didn’t play down the stretch in favor of Josh Richardson. Though he has the propensity to shoot the lights out and tilt a game with just a few shots, he can also shoot the Mavericks in a hole, and that’s what happened tonight.

Here’s the postgame podcast, Mavs Moneyball After Dark. If you can’t see the embed below “More from Mavs Moneyball”, click here. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe by searching “Mavs Moneyball podcast” into your favorite podcast app.