DALLAS — The 76ers are slowly taking shape.
Nico Batum has been a successful small-ball center. And Kelly Oubre Jr.'s swag is at No. 10.
Those three things stood out in the Sixers' 120-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday at American Airlines Center.
Sixers transforming
Sunday's win was the second straight year since Kyle Lowry and Mo Bamba were added to the starting lineup. Coincidentally, this was also Tobias Harris' (team-high 28 points) second consecutive solid performance. And Paul Reed was once again a beast off the bench.
» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey overcomes fear to lead Sixers to victory over Mavericks at homecoming
“I think he's comfortable in that role,” Tyrese Maxey said of Reid being a backup center rather than a starter. “That's the role he plays when you have great people.” [Joel Embiid, sidelined after knee surgery] It is here. So I think that's what motivated him. He was playing with more energy. I think he loves his new role.
“And it's good for Mo Bamba to start. He likes it. He said he's not cold. He's always warm right after warming up. And he's been playing well. Ta”
Bamba played 14 minutes, 21 seconds and had eight points on 2-of-3 shooting, five rebounds and one assist. Meanwhile, Reed had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 27 minutes, 58 seconds of play.
Kyle Lowry made only 1 of 9 shots, but still had a big impact on the win. He did a solid job of leading the way while dishing out a team-high seven assists.
The six-time All-Star did a solid job handling the ball. Harris was a reliable catch-and-shoot three-point shooter. Maxey led the Sixers with 17 of his 24 points in the first quarter.
“Everyone is figuring out the overall chemistry as a group,” Harris said. “We knew it would take time to find a way to succeed locally. We just had to keep at it.”
The Sixers had a good record with 35 wins and 25 losses in the remaining 22 games. Embiid, who recently began on-court training, is expected to rejoin the team later this month.
“We have to get these dubs now,” Reed said. “The playoffs are right around the corner. We have to get there.”
small ball batum
The Sixers went small ball and replaced the center role with Batum, a 6-foot-8 forward, to end the game.
It's a role he played in his final game and the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Against the Mavericks (34-27), Batum had seven points, 11 rebounds, three steals and one block.
» Read more: Kyle Lowry is the Sixers' leader.They would be wise to keep their best pure point guard in the starting lineup.
“I know how to play that role,” he said.
Just like Dallas did with Maxey, he knows how to maximize space when opponents blitz his teammates. Batum also tries to find a way to get the ball to Maxey and Oubre. But when he gets an open shot, he's not afraid of it.
Oubre's stolen goods
Oubre was one of the tallest cowboys in the arena. The 6- to 7-year-old swingman was decked out in a black cowboy hat, leather vest, western belt buckle, and multicolored denim shirt with matching denim pants and cowboy boots.
The 28-year-old New Orleans native moved to Houston after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
» READ MORE: Buddy Hield hosts Sixers practice at home gym: 'It was great to come out here'
“My roots are here,” Oubre said of Texas. “So I just wanted to experience that culture. I love this place. It's done a lot in my life, a really inspired steal.”
Oubre purchased his outfit after the Sixers arrived at Big D on Saturday.
“I spent too much money on these boots,” he said. “But it looks nice and it's an ostrich. So it's all festive.”
