The second half of the NBA season is in full swing. After a thrilling game on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks extended their impressive winning streak to seven games with an impressive victory over the Phoenix Suns with a final score of 123-113.
Dallas not only defeated their rivals to secure a 2-1 lead in the season series, but also moved up one spot in the Western Conference standings. The Mavericks knew how big this game was even though it was his first game back from All-Star Weekend.
All Mavericks players are starting to look comfortable. Between injuries, starting lineup changes, and recent trades, the Mavs haven't had a chance to settle in with each other.
In particular, we saw PJ Washington and Josh Green step up and take down big shots. Washington seems to be getting more comfortable offensively, with Green continuing the rhythm he found before the All-Star break.
Luka throws an insane pass and Josh shoots an open 3! pic.twitter.com/D8maQzy0GB
— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) February 23, 2024
Green is playing the best basketball of his career. Being able to keep him while acquiring P.J. Washington is one of the big moves that didn't get much press considering the Hornets wanted him.
Washington is finding its niche offensively, but it's also solid defensively. It's not an easy challenge to assign the team's best player each night, but head coach Jason Kidd has a lot of confidence in P.J. and praises his defensive play.
Jason Kidd talks about PJ Washington:
“I think it’s PJ.” [Washington] He's playing great defensively.He is trying to [Kevin] Durant.he switches to “book” [Devin Booker]. I think he got the ball a lot defensively tonight and he looked great.”
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) February 23, 2024
With less than 30 games in the 2023-2024 NBA season, we'll likely see teams tighten up on their mistakes and style of play. The Mavericks continue to find continuity within their group, and Josh Green's improved play and P.J. Washington's potential will be the X-factor for the Mavericks for the remainder of the season. If they play well, the rest of the team will play well as well, and the Mavs will rely on these two as steady forces in the starting lineup.
The Mavericks expect a series of tough games, but they are sending a message to the rest of the league. As one of the hottest teams in the league, the Mavericks will look to continue this winning streak against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Stay tuned for more news on Josh Green, PJ Washington, and the Dallas Mavericks.
