On Monday, the Dallas Mavericks dominated the season series against the Washington Wizards at home with a 112-104 victory. The much-anticipated game following trade deadline moves had fans skeptical after a lackluster first half. Despite the struggles, the Mavericks dominated, allowing just 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline led to a great final quarter. Gafford finished the night with five blocks and two steals, and despite his struggles offensively, Washington Jr.'s performance made it difficult for Wizards star Kyle Kuzma to get anything done in the second half.
Jaden Hardy came off the bench and played a big role in energizing the Mavericks throughout the third quarter. Hardy scored 10 important points and made multiple big threes. After another great night for the 21-year-old, fans were left wondering about Hardy's future role.
After the failed attempt to acquire Spencer Dinwiddie through the buyout market, fans knew Hardy needed to step up into a third ball handler role. Hardy has been playing well lately, but is he justified in taking such a prominent role off the bench?
In Hardy's last 10 games, he has been hitting the ball at an elite rate. The former G League standout is shooting a whopping 44.4 percent from behind the arc, marking the first time this season he's shooting over 50 percent from the field.
Hardy has proven to be an elite catch-and-shoot player, and his past 10 games have only guaranteed that. Along with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Hardy has been getting unlimited open shots and capitalizing on those opportunities.
jaden hardy baby
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) February 10, 2024
The second-year player also added a nifty midrange game to his bag. Hardy is often able to get to his position on the floor by making subtle movements that turn into open shots.
The next step in Hardy's evolution is creating for his teammates. If Hardy can unlock this part of his game, there is no reason to doubt his availability as a third ball handler. Check it out for the latest information on Jaden Hardy and the Dallas Mavericks.
