Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving keep leading Dallas Mavericks to wins during busy stretch

ORLANDO, Fla. – Whatever algorithm determines NBA schedules essentially hung this as an “L” on the Mavericks’ ledger back in the summer.

If that message wasn’t previously clear, it certainly was instilled when the Mavericks arrived at their Orlando hotel at 2:43 a.m. Monday, preparing to play their third game in four days and second in 23 hours.

The Mavericks obviously had much different plans, rallying from a 15-point deficit to stun the much-improved Orlando Magic, 117-102, Monday night in Amway Center.

That narrative probably sounds familiar because just one night earlier in American Airlines Center the Mavericks rallied from 15 down to defeat Charlotte.  According to Elias Sports, this is the first time the Mavericks have overcome 12-or-more-point halftime deficits to win on consecutive nights.

And for the second straight night, the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving combo was lethal in crunch time. The star tandem combined to score 23 of Dallas’ 31 fourth-quarter points, including the final 13 in the last 4:23.

“Seems like we like close games, huh?” said Irving, after the Mavericks improved to an NBA-best 6-0 in clutch games, defined as games in which the margin is five or fewer points during the final five minutes.

“When I signed back here, I knew that my role was going to be a little bit different than it was on other teams,” Irving added. “And even last year, when we had different pieces.

“But I knew one thing: For certain down the stretch, I was going to have to maintain my poise and make sure that the guys knew that they can look to me emotionally, mentally, just for that reassurance that we’re OK.”

At 6-1, the Mavericks are tied for the second-best seven-game start in the franchise’s 44-season history. The 2002-2003 Dallas team went 7-0 on its way to a 14-0 start. The 2004-2005 Mavericks started 6-1 and eventually 7-1.

“We’re settin’ records,” coach Jason Kidd deadpanned.

Tim Hardaway Jr., who came off the bench and scored nine of his 21 points during Dallas’ third-quarter rally, said several veteran Mavericks spoke up at the time, saying the game still was winnable. Hardaway cited Irving, Markieff Morris, Seth Curry and Derrick Jones Jr. as players who spoke.

“Last year we wouldn’t be winning these type of games, especially back-to-back,” Hardaway said. “Right now it shows we trust one another out there, but we also hold each other accountable. And guys listen and go out there and fight for one another.”

In Sunday’s victory, the Mavericks took their first lead, at 94-92, since the first quarter, when it was 15-14. Monday was a virtual carbon copy. Dallas led 17-16 five minutes into the game, but didn’t lead again until a Josh Green layup made it 77-76 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.

More déjà vu: On Sunday Charlotte’s biggest lead, 63-48, was with 1:38 remaining in the first half. Orlando’s biggest lead, 60-45, occurred with 1:38 left in the first half. After allowing 66 first-half points to the Magic, Dallas outscored Orlando 64-36 in the second half.

“This is a great and very tough win for us,” said Doncic, who briefly left the court in the third quarter and was checked for a concussion after banging his head on the knee of an Orlando player. “We’ve just got to keep fighting, keep playing defense, and it’s going to lead a long way.”

Coming off Sunday night’s win and the difficult travel schedule, Doncic and Irving were listed as questionable on the injury report.

Apparently, though, there wasn’t much consideration given to them sitting out, at least not in the players’ minds.

“It could be easy where Luka or Kai could take the night off because it’s back-to-back,” Kidd said. “But those are our leaders. Those guys went out there and played at a high level and I thought that the rest of the team did the same.”

As a result, that “L” the Mavericks seemed destined to take on this night became perhaps the biggest W of this young season.

X: @Townbrad

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