By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A 22-point lead evaporating was the opening night situation for the Dallas Mavericks.
With 9.7 seconds remaining in the opener of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, Damion Lee connected the game-winning jumper for the Phoenix Suns. Going to the opposite end of the court, Luka Doncic missed a long three-pointer at the buzzer.
“We blew the lead,” described the Slovenian superstar of the Mavs, “I think we relaxed a little bit.”
“It’s a lot of points, we’re going to get there, we’re going to win. We can’t be blowing leads,” he added.
Doncic, 23, had 35 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one steal in the losing effort.
“The way we played on defense, they scored 45 points in the first half, which was amazing. Then they scored 31 in the third quarter and 31 in the fourth,” he mentioned on the opponents digging their way out of the 22-point hole, “We just can’t relax. We’ve got to play hard no matter what the score is. We just got to play the same.”
“It’s the first game. We have a couple of new guys, it’s 81 games to go and we’re going to get it right,” mentioned Doncic, “We know how to build the leads, so we’ve got to learn from it.”
Campazzo and more
More European action in Maxi Kleber coming from the bench and lasting 26 minutes. Latvian Davis Bertans (right knee) and French Frank Ntilikina (right ankle) were both inactive, as well as newcomer Facundo Campazzo.
“Keeping touch after he left Real Madrid, texting, Instagram. He is a friend to me. He is helping a lot in this process, in these first days here,” said Campazzo on reuniting with Doncic in Dallas, “I will try my best. This is a new team, new teammates, new coach. It is a big challenge for me. I will try to help the team.”
Campazzo, 31, was announced as a new addition Tuesday. He previously played alongside Doncic at Real Madrid.
Returning from Phoenix and possibly with Campazzo ready to begin his third NBA campaign, the Mavs will host the Memphis Grizzlies in American Airlines Center Saturday.
Photo Credit: Getty Images