The center position has been one of turmoil for the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks. Last off-season, they attempted to end this uncertainty by taking a potential franchise center with the 12th overall pick. They then selected a former number one overall recruit in the 7-foot-1 Dereck Lively II out of Duke. 

In his rookie season, Lively II missed over 20 games due to injury, but impressed in his time on the court. He started in 42 of his 55 appearances, averaging 23.5 minutes in each along with 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on a scorching efficiency of 72.8 TS%. With his stellar two-way play catching lobs on offense and protecting the rim on defense, Lively II made quite the impression on NBA viewers. Throughout the regular season, he was commonly regarded as one of the very best rookies in the league. As All-Rookie teams are announced, expect to see his name, perhaps on the First Team.

As Dallas has progressed to the playoffs as the fifth seed in the West, Lively II has brought his talents to the big stage. He’s come off the bench in all three games with veteran Daniel Gafford filling the starting center role, but Lively II has outperformed him and earned more minutes. In the Mavericks’ huge wins in Game 2 and Game 3, the rookie’s vertical spacing and rim protection has been incredibly impactful alongside the Luka and Kyrie Irving backcourt. He brings advantages in these aspects of the game over the smaller Gafford, who has also had struggles containing Clippers center Ivica Zubac’s physical interior play. In 15 minutes on the floor in Game 3, Lively II scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting while sending back two shots. 

In today’s Game 4, Lively II and the Mavs will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Lively II will likely come off the bench again, but with a strong performance, he has the potential to fill minutes and make all the difference in Dallas’ efforts to win the game.

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Vegas is only so much fun for someone Wyatt Johnston’s age.

He can’t celebrate at the bar with his teammates, nor can he test his luck at a casino during Dallas’ four-day stay.

But the 20-year-old Stars forward left T-Mobile Arena Saturday night as the biggest winner.

Johnston lifted Dallas to its first win of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs by a 3-2 margin in overtime, accounting for two of Dallas’ goals including his first overtime game-winner of his career.

He was by far Dallas’ best player on the ice — as he has been in many games this season — and sparked the dominant offensive performance that Dallas needed.

“I thought he was just outstanding tonight,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “For a kid to be under 21 years old and be on that ice with that level of player and look like he did all night tonight, just an outstanding player.”

Johnston logged 23:50 of ice time and had eight shots on goal. He scored his first goal a little over 11 minutes into the game, cleaning up a rebound in front of the net. His top-shelf overtime goal looked eerily similar to the one he scored in Game 7 of last year’s series with Seattle, which clinched Dallas a spot in the Western Conference Finals.

But less than a year later, his game and confidence levels have drastically improved.

“Definitely feels a lot different,” he said. “Obviously, I got to experience a pretty good run last year. I think just learning from last year the playoff style of hockey and trying my best to learn the different areas playing Vegas.”

Johnston led Dallas in goals this season with 32 and is now tied with Jason Robertson for the lead in playoff goals (2). He’s done that despite being a third-line player.

However, his play earned him a spot on Dallas’ top line Saturday alongside Robertson and Roope Hintz. The trio played 111 minutes together in the regular season and led the league in expected goals percentage at 80.2%

Saturday night was just another example of how dangerous they can be.

“They’re great players,” Johnston said of his new linemates. “They’re so smart. See the ice really well, make those plays. I think for me it’s just making sure I’m making those plays. I think it’s just trying to feed off of them.”

Johnston and his line were relentless in Game 3, especially as Vegas goalie Logan Thompson had the game of his career.

Thompson made 43 saves on 46 shots, including stunning glove saves and stops on breakaways. He turned away a dangerous shot from Johnston just moments before the game-winner.

But Johnston continued to threaten, and it paid off.

“Wyatt Johnston. That’s kind of how we solved them,” Tyler Seguin said.

Dallas’ young core has been the heart and soul of the last few months of the season with Johnston and 21-year-old Logan Stankoven delivering the team’s best performances on many nights. The fanbase saw the potential for that group to grow when the team announced it had called up 22-year-old Mavrik Bourque from the Texas Stars, though he was ultimately a healthy scratch Saturday.

DeBoer cautioned that Bourque would not be responsible for saving the Stars’ season if he did enter the lineup.

But Johnston’s performance Saturday night just might have.

“Johnny was such a stud and made a huge play. Biggest play of the season so far,” Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said. “Everyone in here knows how good he is and just what a good person he is. The sky’s the limit for him. When he does stuff like that, no one in here is surprised. We’re happy he’s in green and white.”

Twitter: @lassimak

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

It was a very long morning/afternoon for Cowboys fans tuning into the third day of the NFL Draft. The entire fourth round came and went without any trades or movement inside of the Cowboys’ war room. It was a struggle for fans watching live, but we eventually made it!

During the fourth round, with the 49er’s selected a new safety with the pick acquired from the Cowboys in the Trey Lance trade.

Cowboys fans also watched as lots of RB options were wiped off of the board.

Finally after hours of waiting, the Dallas Cowboys are on the clock!!

And with the 174th-pick in the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Caelen Carson!

Take a closer look at the newest CB in Dallas:

Looks like there could be a new music group in the Cowboys’ secondary.

On to round six!

And with the 216th-pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Ryan Flournoy!

Learn more about the newest weapon for Dak Prescott.

We’ve made it to the final round in the NFL Draft and the Cowboys have two more picks to go!

And with the 233rd-pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Nathan Thomas!

Take a closer look at the evaluation of the 223rd-pick:

And with their final pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with pick number 244, the Dallas Cowboys added a big body on the interior of the defensive line by selecting Justin Rogers.

Learn more about the new Cowboys’ DT.

That concludes the 2024 NFL Draft! How do you think the Cowboys did with their eight picks?

Now let the UDFA frenzy begin!