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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic ‘not surprised’ by Jalen Brunson’s playoff dominance with Knicks
Mavericks should have one goal ahead of Game 1 vs. OKC, according to Dirk Nowitzki
It’s time for Round 2.
Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks are on the road against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal Tuesday night. Follow along for live updates, game stories and more from our reporters on the scene in Oklahoma City.
— Game 1 is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. at Paycom Center.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) May 8, 2024
Mark Daigneault on Mavs’ attack. He later described Doncic and Irving as 99 mph fastball pitchers. pic.twitter.com/Z1yEo824sg
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) May 7, 2024
— What the Mavs’ goal should be in Game 1 against the Thunder, according to Dirk Nowitzki
— Mavericks-Thunder predictions: Will Dallas be making a return trip to the West finals?
— Why you might hear Oklahoma City fans barking during Mavs-Thunder NBA playoff series
— Mavericks’ Luka Doncic ‘not surprised’ by Jalen Brunson’s playoff dominance with Knicks
— Why has Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving found peace in Dallas?
— Even without Maxi Kleber, the Mavericks have a favorable matchup against OKC Thunder
— Mavs’ big men, specifically Daniel Gafford, will have increased opportunity vs. Thunder
— Scouting Mavericks-Thunder: Which MVP candidate has the edge in Western Conference semis?
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Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
The Dallas Stars have one win in their last seven games and are looking to right the ship in the second game of a West Coast road trip.
Dallas fell in overtime to San Jose on Saturday and now look to bounce back against the Los Angeles Kings.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup.
When: Monday, 9 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena in LA
TV/streaming: Victory+
Radio: Sportsradio 96.7/1310 The Ticket
The Kings host the Stars after LA beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout.
Los Angeles has a 19-15-10 record overall and a 7-9-5 record on its home ice. The Kings have given up 120 goals while scoring 116 for a -4 scoring differential.
Dallas has a 26-10-9 record overall and a 14-4-6 record on the road. The Stars rank second in the league with 154 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).
The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Stars won the previous meeting 4-1.
Jason Robertson has 26 goals and 28 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored five goals with four assists over the past 10 games.
Alex Laferriere has scored 12 goals with 10 assists for the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
Stars: 3-3-4, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
Kings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 4.1 penalties and 8.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Twitter: @dmn_stars
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Every offseason it seems like I see a linebacker’s name pop up that the Cowboys need to get to help the defense. This year it may be Quincy Williams. Could he be the guy the middle of the defense is missing? I’ve seen some reactions, and when you dig into the type of player he is the coverage numbers may make you second guess. And honestly, I get it because it doesn’t look pretty. When you actually dig into how Quincy Williams plays, and how he is used, the conversation changes fast. So let’s talk it through like fans, not scouts trying to sound smart.
The First Thing You Need to Know: This Dude Lives in the Box
Quincy Williams is not a coverage linebacker, and he never has been. He will not be floating around in space trying to run with slot receivers or carry tight ends down the seams. When you look at the snap data, it’s not even debatable. He spent hundreds of snaps in the box, very few on the edge, only a handful in the slot, and almost none on the outside.
That tells you exactly how defenses should play him. He is there to attack downhill. If you judge this man based on coverage stats alone, you’re grading a fish on how well it climbs trees. How Quincy Williams Actually Plays
What I like about Quincy Williams is simple: when he sees it, he goes. There’s no dancing, no waiting for someone else to make the play. He triggers fast and shows up with bad intentions. Is he perfect? Absolutely not, but were any of the Cowboys linebackers last season even above average.
He will miss a tackle here and there because of his aggressive play style, but I’ll take that every day over a linebacker who catches blocks and gets pancaked. What I found even more impressive was he lines up all over the box. He can play weak side, strong side, and take inside looks, but he rarely just sat in the middle calling things out. He’s a flow-and-hunt guy, so the Cowboys would need to let him scrape, chase, and hit. That is where his game makes sense.
Not Much of a Pass Rusher
This may be another area where people will get twisted. Yes, you will see him walked up near the line sometimes, but he’s not an edge rusher. He is not winning with moves or stacking sacks. Those snaps are about pressure and confusion to make the offense account for him, mess with protection calls, and let the defense work around it. He’s a blitzer, not a technician, and if used incorrectly, it looks ugly.
A man has died after a dog attacked him inside a home in North Texas on Thursday afternoon, officials say.
Dallas police officers responded to a call in the 4100 block of Esmalda Drive at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7. Investigators determined the man was attacked by a dog inside a residence in the 4100 block of Pringle Drive.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.
According to a press release, the Dallas Police Department is treating the case as a homicide.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Kenneth Castoral at 469‑781‑1261 or by email at kenneth.castoral@dallaspolice.gov.
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