As he was so many times last season, Daniel Gafford was in a shot-making groove Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
The Dallas Mavericks’ center came off the bench and poured in a season-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shots in leading his team to a 110-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The 22 points are the most by any member of the Mavs off the bench this season, and helped the Mavs break a four-game losing streak.
And the dominance in the middle from Gafford was at the forefront of the Mavs padding their won-loss record to 6-7.
“It feels good from the shots that were previously falling whenever I get around the basket,” Gafford said. “The main thing is just whenever (the ball) gets in my hands, have patience and figure out ways that I can score or help somebody else score.”
Gafford, who played 18 minutes, explained that he simply wanted to add some physicality to his game against the Spurs.
“I feel like I haven’t been doing that these first few games,” he said. “I felt like I’ve lacked in that area.
“So, being able to do something like that and just rebound a lot better is something that I’m trying to hold myself accountable for just to help the team out.”
The performance by Gafford was very much needed, since the Mavs had been unable to win the previous four games that ended in one-possession fashion.
“I thought he was great on both ends — defense and offense,” coach Jason Kidd said. “His ability to change high screen on the ball, and offensively we played through him in the post and he delivered. I thought he was really, really good.
“I thought his energy, too, was high for us the whole game. Again, we need that, especially coming off the bench.”
During one stretch in the third quarter when the Mavs were separating themselves form the Spurs, Garrod scored eight consecutive points. That includes throwing down a power dunk over Zach Collins.
“He barely misses,” point guard Luka Dončić said of Gafford. “He was everywhere on the court – offense, defense, on the glass.
“So, that’s what we need from him every game.”
Gafford pointed out that the Mavs went through him during several offensive sequences.
“I just feel like I can build on it,” he said. “Just really just having patient.
“I appreciate them for having the faith in me and putting me in that position, and I feel like I actually got the job done there.”
Gafford also got the job done on the boards as he finished with seven rebounds, including a game-high tying three offensive boards.
“He also gives us second opportunities,” Kidd said. “But then on the defensive end, his ability to play the pick-and-roll and not give up the lob, I thought he was really good.”
PAUL JOINED THE 12,000-ASSIST CLUB: Mavs coach Jason Kidd tipped his hat to San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, who has joined the 12,000-assist club.
With 11 assists during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul joined John Stockton (15,806) and Kidd (12,091) as the only players in the history of the NBA to distribute at least 12,000 career assists. Paul tacked on three more assists against the Mavs and now has 12,011 overall.
“His durability, his ability to play with talent,” is what Kidd cited as Paul’s strengths. “He sets the table, he understands how to play the game at a very high level with the pass. It seems like he’s in with LeBron (James) with playing until they’re 50.
“Just understanding how well he’s playing with the Spurs. He understands how to play the game at a high level. But using the pass is something that he does at a high level.”
BRIEFLY: The Spurs announced on Nov. 2 that head coach Gregg Popovich was sidelined indefinitely due to health issues. And it was later determined that Popovich had suffered a stroke, leading to Mitch Johnson being announced as the Spurs’ interim head coach. The Spurs are 4-5 under Johnson. . .Comedian Cedric The Entertainer attended Saturday’s game. He also was in Arlington at AT&T Stadium on Friday when Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over Mike Tyson in a “boxing” match. . .The Mavs have been one of the talks of the NBA this season, especially with adding Klay Thompson to a high-powered offense that already included Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Those talks intensified when the Mavs and Utah Jazz staged the only game in the NBA this past Thursday. “It just happens that we were the only game on NBA TV, but I think it’s a compliment that everyone wants to talk about us in a positive or negative light,” coach Jason Kidd said. “When you’re one of the best teams in the league, that’s the territory that you have to get used to. This is a new group and understanding, there’s no panic. We might not be shooting the ball straight. We might not be rebounding, but we’ll come back to work the next day. And if someone asks how is the team, the energy is high. Everybody is in a positive state and excited about the game tonight.”. .In summing up his team’s lack of rebounding, Kidd said: “If you just keep it simple, it’s your want, your physicality and your will. It eliminates a lot of the question marks. That is something that we have struggled with. But as we go forward, we understand that and we’re starting to trend the right way. (Dereck Lively II) being back helps us with that, and then P. J. (Washington) and Maxi (Kleber) out there defensively helps us, too.”
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