Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks return to Texas as conquering heroes and with a 2-0 series lead; two games on the road won by a total margin of four points. After Denver and Minnesota took turns exchanging blowouts, this series has been a “you bought the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge of it” non-stop thrill ride.
Taking the 2-0 lead is a huge accomplishment for sure, but there’s no sense that this is a team that is going to rest on their laurels. Without tempering the post-game celebration too much, Coach Jason Kidd reminded his team that they’d just stolen two games on the road – Minnesota was no doubt going to try and do the same. The Mavs should be riding high, but there’s work to be done in Dallas.
Take command
In their previous two series, with a 2-1 series lead, the Mavericks had opportunities in game four to take a commanding series lead. It doesn’t take advanced stats to tell you being up 3-1 is a world apart from being knotted up with two wins apiece. However, after a 31-point comeback against the Clippers, and despite leading nearly the entire game against the Thunder, Dallas wasn’t able to clinch either of those game fours. It’s a little surprising considering Dallas has often looked like the best closing teams in these playoffs, able to lean on Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the clutch to bring home the win.
Now, up 2-0, the Mavericks have another shot at putting the opponent on the brink. They deserve enormous credit for how resilient they’ve been, never losing back-to-back games this postseason, bouncing back strong from that pair of game-four losses. But it’d be nice to see this team assert their will and put themselves in an overwhelmingly dominant position. Not that the job is done at 3-0, but a larger margin for error is always welcome. (Plus, not to look ahead, but it doesn’t seem like the Pacers are going to provide much more than nominal resistance to Boston’s path to the finals, especially if Tyrese Haliburton is out for game three.)
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No notes, keep it up
Dallas’ defensive track record speaks for itself in these playoffs (unless you’re a national NBA talking head who just thinks Dallas’ opponents just keep missing shots). In particular, they have made scoring in the paint a nightmare for opposing teams all playoffs. That has held true against Minnesota, even with Rudy Gobert down low and Anthony Edwards trying to attack the rim.
In the first round, Edwards was scoring 30% of his points in the paint. In the next round, against Denver, the number jumped to just north of 43% of his points. Against Dallas, Ant is scoring just 15% of his points in the paint.
With Dallas’ concerted effort to close down the paint and restricted areas to any and all opposing players, teams have been more reliant on jump shots and three-pointers. Edwards, who has by his own admission been gassed at the end of games, has had to rely more on on his outside shot to put points on the board. Tired legs and long jumpers just don’t mix. Minnesota’s scoring output has fallen precipitously in each of the first two games the longer they played, often lucky to pass the 20-point mark in the fourth.
The Mavericks’ defense is body blows all game long. They need to continue to wear teams down, guard the paint with their lives, and live with the occasional hot game by the Naz Reid’s of the world.
All out blitz
After a game where Doncic had a 32-point triple-double and shot over 45% from three, it’s not a wild expectation that Minnesota will try to do all they can to limit Doncic; even if it means giving up good looks for other players.
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After a series where P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. took turns lighting it up from deep, both have been a little quieter on the offensive side this series. In two games, Washington is just 2-of-12 from deep while Jones Jr. is 0-for-5.
Those two are too important to Dallas’ defense to be out of the game for long, but when they’re not knocking down shots, it forces Coach Kidd to search for a spark from someone else off the bench. In game two, he was cycling through Jaden Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Dante Exum during a second quarter where the Wolves were building their 18-point lead, hoping one of them would provide some pushback on the scoreboard. The rotations are just a little easier to pilot if he can count on some offense from one of his starting wings.
Washington and DJJ are both due for a hot shooting game, and if Minnesota decides to sell out to stop Doncic at all costs, the shots will be there for them. They just need to knock ‘em down.
How to watch
You can broadcast or stream the game on TNT at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
A “hazmat problem” led to closures on Interstate 35 north of Dallas-Fort Worth, near Valley View, officials with the Texas Department of Transportation said Friday morning.
As of about 9 a.m., only one lane was open in either direction.
A three-vehicle crash involving a rock hauler and passenger vehicle carrying radioactive medical dye prompted the call for a hazardous materials team to inspect the area, according to emergency management officials in Cooke County.
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The outer container of one of the medical packages was opened though the interior packaging was intact, officials said.
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“Out of an abundance of caution, hazmat was called to assess the item,” according to a social media post from the county officials.“The item was assessed and removed to a safe location.”
The crash happened about 4 a.m. on the southbound side of I-35, near the Hockley Creek overpass, and involved three semi-truck trailers and a passenger vehicle. One of the trucks caught fire, and the driver died, officials said.
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Diesel fuel and vehicle oil were still awaiting cleanup late Friday morning. The interstate in that area was still congested.
Those planning to travel the highway in the area north of Denton, about 20 miles south of the Oklahoma border in Cooke County, should make a backup plan as the crews work to clear the road, TxDOT officials said.
Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.
Jordan Raanan
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Jordan Raanan
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ESPN Staff Writer
Jordan Raanan is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Raanan covers the New York Giants. You can follow him via Twitter @JordanRaanan.
Sep 27, 2024, 11:22 PM ET
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Entering Thursday night’s game, the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys shared last place in the NFC East at 1-2, a game behind the 2-1 Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys scored two first-half touchdowns and limited the Giants to three field goals to lead 14-9 at the half. It was a defensive battle the rest of the way, as neither team scored a touchdown in the second half.
Dallas picked up its second win of the season with a final score of 20-15, but star edge rusher Micah Parsons was carted off the field late in the game with a left ankle/foot injury. He said afterward that X-rays were negative and he will get an MRI on Friday.
Giants’ rookie receiver Malik Nabers also exited the game in the fourth quarter after suffering a concussion.
Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott did not speak to the media prior to Thursday’s game against the Giants. He said he would speak “post win.” The Cowboys got the win, but it wasn’t an artistic beauty. However, after Dallas was embarrassed in back-to-back home losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, the only thing that mattered was getting a win on a short week.
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Being 2-2 is so much better than 1-3. Had the Cowboys lost, it would have marked the first time they lost three September games since 2001, and they would have been in last place in the NFC East.
Prescott was sharp, especially in the first half with touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb (55 yards) and Rico Dowdle (15 yards). The defense finally stopped the run and stiffened in the red zone, holding the Giants to five field goals.
Prescott has now won 13 straight against the Giants. His last loss came in 2016 as a rookie. He tied the second-longest win streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since quarterback stats were first tracked in 1950. Tom Brady beat the Buffalo Bills 13 straight times from 2003 to 2010, and Steve Young beat the Rams 13 straight from 1987 to 1998. Prescott will get a chance at No. 14 on Thanksgiving.
Promising trend: When Lamb has some sideline issues, the best seems to come out of him. During last year’s loss at San Francisco, Lamb kept to himself on the sideline and then followed with six games with at least 11 catches and seven games with more than 100 yards. In last week’s loss to New Orleans, Lamb had a spat with Prescott and did not speak to the media after the game. On Tuesday, Lamb was apologetic and said he would be better. In the first half alone, he had six catches for 94 yards (both season highs) and a touchdown.
Eye-popping stat: Brandon Aubrey has played 21 games for the Cowboys. He has three field goals of 60 yards in his career, including a 60-yarder in the third quarter against the Giants. That’s one off the NFL record held by Brett Maher, who made four with the Cowboys over two different stints. Aubrey made a 60-yarder last week against the Ravens. He is 2-for-2 from 60 yards this season. The rest of the league is 0-for-2, according to ESPN Research.
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Silver lining: The Cowboys will have 10 days to get ready for the presently undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. The time will help because there is still a lot that needs to be corrected, even with the win. In the past three games, opposing quarterbacks have missed on only 19 passes. Against the Saints and Ravens, that was understandable because both teams were so dominant on the run. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had too much time to throw for much of the game after previously being tormented by the Cowboys, who sacked him 24 times in eight games prior to Thursday. Oh, and they were penalized nine times in the first half alone. —Todd Archer
Next game: at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6.)
New York Giants
The Giants kept it close against the Cowboys, but they still didn’t come away with a win. After last season, when the Giants were outscored 89-17 in their two meetings with the Cowboys, this has to be viewed as progress, right?
Sure, there are no moral victories in the NFL, but this was the third straight step in the right direction for the Giants (1-3) after an ugly opener.
The gap, at least to some degree, has narrowed between the division rivals. Dallas still owns the Giants. It has won 14 of the past 15 matchups, and Prescott has beaten them 13 straight times. New York still isn’t quite there yet, but this proved it’s at least improving.
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QB breakdown: Jones was efficient, completing 29 of 40 passes (73% completion) for 281 yards with an interception on a Hail Mary in the final seconds. But the Giants were kept out of the end zone, and Jones was short on most of his deep throws. It’s especially notable considering this was a problem early in training camp. There was a lot of good for Jones, but it was not quite enough. Jones is clearly playing better since the opener. Having rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (12 catches for 115 yards) certainly helps.
Eye-popping stat: Prior to leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion, Nabers kept adding to his records. He became the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four career games when he caught a 3-yard pass early in the second quarter. He now has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games.
Troubling trend: Top Giants cornerback Deonte Banks has been the nearest defender on four touchdown passes already this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Banks was beat again on Thursday night, this time by Lamb for a 55-yard score in the second quarter. The Giants were hoping Banks would step into the CB1 role this season. Instead, it has been a struggle so far.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Giants weren’t able to get anything going in the running game against the league’s worst run defense. Dallas came into the contest allowing 185.7 yards on the ground per game. The Giants came into the game thinking they would have success but had only 29 yards rushing in the first half — and they finished with 26 yards on 24 carries. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6)
DALLAS — It’s not exactly curl-up-by-the-fireplace weather, but the Chi Omega Christmas Market is this weekend and in a new location: Dallas Market Hall.
“They’re like, ‘Wait, I’m not ready! I’m not ready for Christmas!’” said the 2024 Chi Omega Market co-chair Nancy Woodall with a laugh. “But the weather cooperated with us. It got a little bit cooler this morning.”
Inside Dallas Market Hall, the shopping is heating up as guests grab their red shopping bags and head down the colorful and well-stocked aisles.
“It’s Candy Land” exclaimed Josie Yanez with a delightful laugh. She’s experiencing the market for the first time with her daughter, Candace.
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“Well, I just feel like you can get truly one-of-a-kind gifts for anybody on your shopping list: your best friend, your husband, your husband’s business partner, whoever,” says Candace Yanez.
Chi Omega Christmas Market shoppers said it’s not too early to start holiday shopping.
“I’m already ahead of just the Christmas holidays,” said Josie Yanez. “There are the [Thanksgiving] holidays… Halloween… you can find it all.”
Organizers say the September start means fewer conflicts for vendors, and the move to Market Hall gives them more space.
“We’re just not here for Christmas shopping. We’re here for everything,” said Woodall. “And then Dallas Market Hall has been a spectacular venue to host a show. It’s light, it’s bright, it’s large, and we have filled every square inch of this space.”
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More than 200 vendors offering unique items ranging from clothes to toys to decor compete for spots in the long-running holiday market.
“It is tough to get a slot. We have tried probably for 10 years,” said Candace Williams, who owns The Toy Maven. “We are strong believers in supporting our community, and so it’s a thrill. We’re thrilled to be a part of the market this year. It’s a great opportunity for business.”
While the start date and location are new, the purpose remains unchanged: charity.
“We like to say we shop for a purpose,” said Woodall, “and whenever a shopper comes in and buys a ticket, they are helping us fund these great beneficiaries.”
Over the years, the Chi Omega Christmas Market has raised and donated more than $10 million to local charities. Debbie Lang and Karen Hunt are also 2024 market co-chairs.
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Beneficiaries this year are Bonton Farms, the Stewpot, Genesis Women’s Shelter, Make-A-Wish, TITAS/Dance Unbound, Network of Community Ministries, Behind Every Door, Swan Strings, Together We Thrive, Family Compass, Young Women’s Preparatory Network, the Children’s Craniofacial Association, and Ascend Dallas.
“You’re hitting the jackpot coming to this Christmas market!” said Candace Yanez.
The Chi Omega Christmas Market is open until 9 p.m. on Thursday and opens at 9 a.m. Friday and runs through 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at Dallas Market Hall.
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Robbie Owens
Robbie grew up in northeast Texas, in a tiny town where her family’s history spans six generations.
