The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Chicago Bulls 114-105 at home to start the 2023-24 season 4-0. Grant Williams and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 24 points to help Dallas win. Zach LaVine led the Bulls in scoring with 22 points.

The second home game of the season for Dallas got off to a rough start, with both teams missing shots. The Mavericks eventually calmed down, with Grant Williams hitting a pair of three-pointers to put Dallas up 13-10 at the half. After exchanging baskets, Tim Hardaway Jr. attempted to seal the game with two straight three-pointers, giving Dallas an eight-point lead. The Bulls got within three points late, but Dallas took a 26-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

Dallas maintained their lead by answering any Bulls scoring attempt with one of their own. Maxi Kleber left the game early in the third quarter due to a foot injury. However, during a Chicago timeout around the seven-minute mark, the Bulls’ three-point shooting came alive. Zach Lavine’s strong shooting (he nailed his first five three-point attempts) propelled the Bulls past Dallas, giving them a 48-42 advantage. A Grant Williams three and a pair of Dereck Lively dunks put the Mavericks back in front, but it was only for a brief time. DeMar DeRozan scored on the next possession, and Chicago led 50-49 at the half.

Dereck Lively got the Mavericks off to a good start with a great dish to Derrick Jones Jr. for a lay in. With Chicago sending two defenders at Doncic on practically every pick and roll, a number of Dallas players had terrific looks to score. Chicago clawed their way back into the lead after a succession of Doncic gaffes. Hardaway finished a 7-0 Bulls run with a three-pointer following an offensive rebound by Lively. The remainder of the quarter was spent exchanging baskets, with neither team acquiring more than a three-point lead. The Mavericks trailed 83-81 after three quarters.

Dallas got off to a shaky start in the fourth quarter. Following a five-point lead by the Bulls, the Mavericks appeared to be losing the game due to turnovers and missed shots. However, Lively’s rebounding tenacity led to more Dallas shots, including an unbelievable one-handed tip out to Hardaway for a four-point play. Following a Mavericks break at six minutes, the Mavericks embarked on a 20-11 run, highlighted by big jumpers from Grant Williams, Jared Hardy, and Josh Green. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Chicago Bulls 114-105 at home to improve to 4-0.

A collective effort

Luka Doncic’s performance (18 points on 5 of 16 shooting, seven rebounds, and 10 assists) was certainly not his best. This season, the Bulls defended him better than any other team, and they also got away with a lot of hard play.

With that in mind, it was fantastic to see several Dallas teammates come up during the game to help drag this Dallas group across the finish line. Dereck Lively didn’t look like a rookie. The determination of Tim Hardaway to shoot away paid off. Grant Williams is stunning once more. Derrick Jones Jr. is playing the role that Dallas had in mind for him. I could keep going.

With Kyrie Irving out, Dallas cannot rely solely on Luka Doncic’s abilities. These kinds of performances should boost the Mavericks’ confidence as they prepare to meet the defending champions in Denver on Friday.

Dereck Lively II is one-of-a-kind.

With four games under his belt, it’s safe to say the rookie big man has exceeded all of my expectations for him this season. I hoped that by the second half of the season, Kidd would be able to consistently play Lively real minutes. Given the track record of rookie big men, this felt like a tall order, but it was manageable.

After four games, he’s the Dallas big man who matters. His size and strength give Dallas something they haven’t seen in a long time. He makes superb use of his stature both on defence and offensively, giving Dallas more possessions through effort and strength. He had seven points, 13 rebounds (seven on offensive! ), six assists, two steals, and a block. These are not inexperienced players. What a comeback game after a foul-plagued game.

Welcome to the season, Jaden Hardy!

Staying ready is probably the simplest way to define one of an NBA player’s most challenging obligations. On Wednesday night, second-year guard Jaden Hardy shown great mental toughness. Hardy struggled in his first outing off the bench against the Bulls, but when given another chance, he capitalised by staying inside himself and letting the game come to him. His stunning stop-start layup in the fourth quarter, as well as his lethal three later in the quarter, helped lead the Mavericks past a tenacious Bulls team. Because of how deep Dallas goes, he won’t always get consistent minutes, but when he does, he has all the talent to capitalise. He is required by the Mavericks.