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01:00Here in Houston, Texas, another battle between the Rockets,
01:08one of the best teams in the NBA,
01:09and a shorthanded Mavericks team that is battling and scrapping
01:14and fighting every single night.
01:17And tonight's starting lineups are brought to you by Crown Royal.
01:22Max Christie, Najee Marshall, the rookie Cooper Flagg,
01:25P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.
01:28Of course, no Kyrie Irving, no Anthony Davis for Jason Kidd.
01:31Meanwhile, the Rockets with Durant, Smith, and Changun.
01:35They lost Steven Adams this week for the rest of the season.
01:39Tari Eason and Amen Thompson in the backcourt.
01:43As we welcome in for the first time tonight,
01:45back from their NFL duties, now part of the NBA,
01:48Lisa Sultz. Welcome back, Lisa.
01:50Hey, Mike.
01:51Well, it's really vintage versus contemporary greatness here tonight.
01:55Kevin Durant's legacy is one of the most prolific scorers the game has ever seen.
02:00That's already been established.
02:02While for 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, he's just starting to write his story,
02:06but he's already putting up such historic numbers as a rookie.
02:10Here's how they match up through the first 44 games of their respective careers.
02:14Pretty similar numbers, but what Durant and Flagg probably both wish they could change
02:18are those wins and losses.
02:20Neither one had a lot of experience with losing in high school or college.
02:24Cooper Flagg says he thinks he's had a solid rookie season so far,
02:27that there have been ups and downs,
02:28but he said he's continuing to work and continuing to figure things out as he goes.
02:33As for facing Kevin Durant for the fourth time this season,
02:37Flagg says, like a lot of other kids, he grew up idolizing KD's game,
02:40and that Durant was a role model because of the way he loved basketball.
02:45So to now get to go up against that role model when he's still doing it
02:49at such a high level, Flagg said, it's really cool.
02:53Mike?
02:53It certainly is, Lisa.
02:54And again, as we said at the top, Cooper Flagg was 10 months old
02:58when Kevin Durant played his first game.
03:01And she brings up a point, Legs.
03:03It's not easy when you're used to winning at all the levels
03:06in grade school and high school and college,
03:08and then you get to the NBA, Cooper Flagg's 20 games under .500,
03:13and Kevin Durant's first year, they were 20-62 for the season.
03:17Very difficult to not get on that emotional roller coaster
03:20because it's such a long season.
03:23There's a lot of peaks and valleys,
03:24and I think Cooper Flagg has a maturity level
03:27that allows him to process that and handle it,
03:30and we're seeing great progress not only with his game,
03:32but with the Dallas Mavericks over the last couple of months.
03:35Rockets come in fourth in the West,
03:37just two-and-a-half games back of the second spot.
03:40Meanwhile, Dallas way back in the 11th in the West.
03:44They're three-and-a-half back of a play-in,
03:45although many believe they'd probably be better off
03:47not going into the playoffs, but we'll have more on that.
03:51Thompson finds Jabari Smith, rises up his first shot off the mark.
03:55Shang-Goon, the rebound, got hit in the head inadvertently
03:57by P.J. Washington, who doesn't like the call,
04:01even though he clearly hit him in the head.
04:03No doubt, and you're already seeing something
04:05we're going to be talking about a lot tonight.
04:06This is the number one offensive rebounding team in the league.
04:09Dallas, the fourth-best defensive rebounding team,
04:12so something's got to give tonight.
04:14That's going to be a big part of this game.
04:15Well, Lex, even though Dallas is 10 games under .500,
04:20Shang-Goon kicks it out east and up top Jabari Smith at 19-29.
04:25They've been really good defensively,
04:27and that shows you their character.
04:28Even with all the injuries and some tough losses,
04:31they're still fighting.
04:32They're athletic.
04:33They fight.
04:34They're very versatile defensively.
04:35They've got some interchangeable parts,
04:37which allows them to do a lot of nice things defensively,
04:40as you see P.J. Washington with our first bucket of the game.
04:43Jason Kidd has said it numerous times how proud he is of this team
04:47with all that's gone on over the past year.
04:50As Easton's Florida comes up short,
04:52Shang-Goon another offensive rebound.
04:53Durant goes up top.
04:56And then Thompson jump shot in and out.
04:59And Marshall with the rebound.
05:01Dallas just 5-14 on the road.
05:05By the way, tonight is their 26th different starting lineup.
05:09As Cooper Flagg's first shot is short.
05:13That's most in the NBA, by the way, in terms of starters.
05:16That just shows you not just those guys who were out for a long time,
05:19but a lot of regulars have missed time.
05:23Easton, an excellent three-point shooter, gets that one to go.
05:26Second in the NBA in three-point percentage.
05:29And that was all set up by Shang-Goon's interior.
05:32Passing ability, getting Dallas to collapse,
05:34and then one more pass leads to a wide-open shot.
05:37Smith to Durant.
05:40Oh, through the legs!
05:42And a foul call, Thompson will shoot.
05:44How about that pass?
05:45That's incredible.
05:46And there's two defenders in the area.
05:48I'm not 100% sure he intended it to go through Christie's legs,
05:52but that's exactly where it ended up.
05:54Beautiful cut, beautiful delivery by Durant.
05:57He goes right there.
05:59I thought maybe he was trying to go between Christie and Flagg,
06:02but now I'm not sure.
06:03Ball ends up right there for Thompson, who gets fouled.
06:06He'll say he tried to get it through the line.
06:08No question.
06:08But when he sees that on tape, he absolutely is going to own that.
06:12I don't blame him.
06:12Well, Durant averaging four-and-a-half assists per game.
06:16Rockets' second-best home record in the NBA.
06:19They've been tough here at the Toyota Center, 16-4.
06:25They've got a lot of home games, much more down the end of the season.
06:29And 21 of their final 36.
06:32Cooper Flagg gets inside.
06:34Floater won't go.
06:34Durant rebound.
06:35Looks to push.
06:36Throws it ahead.
06:36Another nice bounce pass.
06:37Eason gathers.
06:38Block from behind.
06:40Flagg with a defense and a quick outlet.
06:44There's Marshall.
06:46Najee Marshall playing the best basketball of his career.
06:48Can't get that to fall.
06:51Rockets looking to push.
06:53Ball deflected from Washington.
07:00Changun against Flagg.
07:03Using his size, using his footwork, but can't get it to fall.
07:06Well defended.
07:07Yeah, that's the versatility defensively you talk about.
07:09He can jump out and play guards, or he can play bigs that are trying to back him down.
07:14Nobody stops the ball for the Rockets in transition.
07:16Dallas gets an easy one.
07:17That is one clear path to the basket.
07:20It's about as easy as you're going to get in this league in the open floor,
07:23particularly when they had numbers defensively back over half court.
07:28Durant, the extra pass.
07:30Eason off the bounce.
07:31Double team looking for help.
07:33Changun using the left hand.
07:35Ball knocked out of his hands.
07:37Eason still comes up with it.
07:38Gafford right all over him.
07:40Has to kick it back out.
07:43Rockets one for eight from the field to start.
07:47Durant on the pull-up.
07:48Well contested.
07:50Can't get that to fall.
07:51Gafford the rebound.
07:55Flagg coming off that 49-point game the other night.
07:57He's fouled by Eason.
07:59He wants to say he started the upward motion.
08:01He's not going to get the call.
08:03It'll be a side out.
08:05Well, we're going to talk a lot about Cooper Flagg's defensive awareness,
08:09and this is just wanting it right here.
08:11He did a dead sprint from half court.
08:13Times that up perfectly.
08:14It's a luxury in this league to have a guy playing the small forward spot that is that good at rim protection.
08:22He's been like that really since the first time we laid eyes on him on the youth level, certainly at Duke.
08:26And now he's doing it again here as a rookie in the NBA.
08:30Max Christie.
08:32Can't get that to fall.
08:33Some rough shooting to start.
08:34Durant grabs another rebound.
08:36Marshall guarding him.
08:42Durant off the bounce.
08:43Gets inside.
08:44Flips it up.
08:44Another shot won't go.
08:45P.J. Washington looks to push.
08:47Both teams trying to push the pace.
08:50Nice feet inside.
08:51Flagg misses.
08:52But foul.
08:53Good look from Washington.
08:55And Flagg's going to shoot two free throws.
08:56And you're seeing something here early for Dallas, and this is really important for them, is to make this game fast.
09:03They're one of the number one teams in the league in pace, third in the NBA, second in fast break points.
09:09They want to convert everything they get off the defensive glass with quick outlets and try to attack in the open floor.
09:15And that's where Cooper Flagg and his size comes into play with those driving gaps early.
09:20You saw those numbers, legs that he put up.
09:22And after the game, he was not happy.
09:24Here's one of the quotes that he said after a game where he scored 49.
09:28He goes, I just got to be better.
09:30And that's because even though he hit a big three to tie it in the final minute, he had a turnover and missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer.
09:37So all he cared about was that they lost the game.
09:42And that's what you love about it.
09:43You got to.
09:44And that's just leadership.
09:45That's beyond his years.
09:46You don't typically see young players feel that way, particularly after you have a game like that, almost drop a 50-point game.
09:55Thompson to Shang-Goon.
09:57Well defended by Gafford.
09:59Last touch by the Mavs.
10:00Shang-Goon thought he was foul.
10:02There was some contact.
10:04Gafford's going to sit down.
10:06Dwight Powell will check in.
10:08Jason Kidd has had to go to his bench often.
10:11And often has a lot of his bench players starting.
10:14It has not been an easy year.
10:15But as we said, he's proud of his team.
10:16They've been in a lot of close games.
10:24Five on the 24.
10:26Durant makes his move.
10:27Spins.
10:28Falling away.
10:29Gets it a go.
10:30His first field goal.
10:31Well, there isn't a defense on the planet that's going to do anything about that.
10:34You know, he either is going to go to the step back on the baseline or he loves to spin back to the middle and then just rises up.
10:40His shot release is too high to get a real contest on that.
10:45Flag on the drive using his left hand.
10:47Banks it home easily.
10:49He loves that left hand.
10:51I think at one point earlier in the year, he was getting a little bit too predictable going left.
10:55And he's mixing in the right hand drives more.
10:58But he still prefers to get to that left hand if he can down the lane.
11:02Durant.
11:02Shang-Goon.
11:03Drives his left hand.
11:04Can't get that to fall.
11:06Shang-Goon 0 for 4.
11:07Mavs come the other way.
11:08Marshall goes right at Durant.
11:10Layup is no good.
11:12And a whistle and a foul.
11:16So Najee Marshall to shoot some free throws with the Mavericks up by 2.
11:21He has had an excellent season.
11:27Especially lately, obviously starting most of the time now with all the different injuries, averaging just under 15 a game.
11:34But the last 10 games as a starter, he's averaging 20 a game.
11:36Time for tonight's DraftKings Sportsbook player, Pulse.
11:45Yeah, I like both of those guys to get that number.
11:48Kevin Durant's coming in.
11:49You know, like I said earlier, one of the hottest stretches he's had this season.
11:52And obviously Cooper flag coming off of that game, you're going to expect him to be very aggressive early.
11:58And he has been.
11:59I think for the Rockets right now, you know, Shang-Goon has already touched the ball probably six times in the paint between direct passes, offensive rebounds, and has yet to really get anything down there to go.
12:09Meanwhile, Marshall misses a pair of free throws.
12:14And Akoji knocks down a shot just off the bench and nails his first.
12:22Akoji in his first year here in Houston.
12:24Flag gets it inside.
12:26Powell can't get it to fall.
12:28Rockets look to push.
12:31A rough offensive start for both teams.
12:33And then Thompson rattles that one home.
12:36His first field goal.
12:37Yeah, that's nice right there.
12:38And he's so explosive off the ground.
12:40If he can get into that restricted area, he's just going to elevate very good with those short push shots.
12:47Flag finds P.J. Washington.
12:49Lines that three-pointer up.
12:51Long rebound.
12:52Deflected ticket by Eason.
12:54Pass behind Durant.
12:55Still catches and scores.
12:57And a quick timeout.
12:59Call by Jason Kidd.
13:01And after that rough start offensively, Rockets get a little bit of rhythm.
13:04Well, these are the two guys we talked about.
13:06Pre-game, Kevin Durant right here, splitting two defenders.
13:09How many times have we seen him do that?
13:12And then the rookie has an answer of his own.
13:15Cooper flags strong to the hole.
13:22Tomorrow, Bucs and Celtics, 3-30 on ESPN.
13:26Game celebrating the 75th anniversary of the association's first black players.
13:30Chuck Cooper, Nat Sweetwater-Clifton, and Earl Lloyd.
13:34Coverage kicks off NBA countdown at 3 Eastern.
13:39Early five-point lead now for the Rockets.
13:44Christie comes off the screen.
13:46Good help defense that time.
13:48P.J. Washington lost it.
13:50Thompson pushing back to Durant.
13:53Inside Eason, the trailer layup is good.
13:56Gorgeous move from Tari Eason.
13:58Nine straight points for the Rockets.
13:59And a nice delivery by Durant.
14:01He saw Eason trailing the play.
14:04Thought he was going to shoot that short jumper, but he found a better option at the rim.
14:08Eason getting his 12th start of the season.
14:10You see Brandon Williams in.
14:14Williams fires away.
14:16Can't get that to go.
14:17He has really struggled from three, to say the least.
14:20He's had some excellent games, but not from beyond the arc.
14:24Vlad drives, draws a foul.
14:26Shot's good and one.
14:27You made the point at the top of the telecast how he scores in so many different ways.
14:35He's got an array of shot making now, particularly that he's making more perimeter shots comfortably,
14:40but he still loves more than anything to get to that left hand.
14:44And if he can't get there all the way to finish with his left, he can do this.
14:48He can just manipulate his body in the air, get a soft release with his right hand.
14:52And, Mike, that's all possible because of his strength.
14:55That's the thing that most 19-year-olds just don't have, his ability to play through the contact,
15:01stay on balance, and get something up at the rim that's soft.
15:05It's a very difficult thing to do.
15:07Well, he had that 49-point game.
15:08He only had two points in the first quarter.
15:11They made up with 23 in the second.
15:13Such an efficient game against Charlotte.
15:16But, again, they lost.
15:18The nipple, his former Duke teammate, had a great game with 36.
15:22And Charlotte won.
15:23Charlotte won again today.
15:24Nice feet inside.
15:26Gafford kicks it back out.
15:27Williams knocks down the three.
15:29Brandon Williams, who, as we mentioned, has really struggled,
15:32shooting just 19% from three.
15:35Came into the game 20 for 102.
15:39Durant, the floater.
15:42So difficult.
15:43He basically matches what Cooper Flagg just did the other way,
15:47going to his left hand and then releasing it with the right over the top.
15:50Beautiful shot.
15:51Max Christie finds some space.
15:53Gafford tips it.
15:54Washington grabs it.
15:58Flag goes past.
15:59Shepard goes inside.
16:00Again, switches to the left hand.
16:02He never seems in a rush on those moves.
16:06And he puts his head down.
16:07He gets very low.
16:08So, he can get by smaller defenders initially.
16:11He's quicker than really his height would indicate he should be with his first step.
16:16Reed Shepard shot wouldn't go.
16:18So, Gafford the rebound.
16:21Washington gets the pass, drives inside, flips it up, and Gafford throws it down.
16:26And that's what early pressure up the floor does sometimes.
16:31You might not score or capitalize when you first get numbers,
16:34but it puts pressure on teams defensively and allows miscommunication
16:38and eventually a missed blockout.
16:42Okoji banks it home on the offensive rebound.
16:45Shingun now 0 for 5 from the field.
16:47Now, Okoji was not a heralded pickup, but he's a good player, Legs,
16:57as Christie misses that.
16:58Ball batted around.
17:00Still loose.
17:02Eason lost it.
17:04Now, Okoji comes out of the pack.
17:06Finds Eason.
17:06Eason drives inside.
17:07Left-handed again.
17:10But that was a beautiful finish after they win the 50-50 ball.
17:14I thought two different Mavericks had a chance to get that at the rim,
17:18but Eason's able to hang in the air long enough to switch hands and get that to go.
17:23Rockets back up by 3.
17:25Shepard pokes it away.
17:26Williams grabs it.
17:28Scoop layup.
17:30And Brandon Williams brings him back within 1.
17:33And you mentioned his struggles with 3-point shooting,
17:35but he can flat-out score.
17:37Brandon Williams has really solidified the backup guard position for Jason Kidd.
17:41And the offensive woes continue for Shingun.
17:44He's now 0 for 6.
17:47Okoji.
17:48Airball.
17:49Shingun almost had it.
17:50Washington grabs it.
17:51Knocked out of bounds.
17:52Mavs ball.
17:53This is a typical Mavs game.
17:55They are fighting and scrapping.
17:57And right now, just down by 1.
17:58Yeah, and you're seeing two forwards here putting on a show.
18:01Kevin Durant, look at that difficulty.
18:04Going left with the soft touch.
18:06Cooper Flagg doing the same thing here.
18:08Up and around Shingun.
18:10He's already a star in the NBA from Newport, Maine, one of three boys.
18:27And he came from a basketball family.
18:30His mom apparently was a terrific player at Maine.
18:34His dad also played.
18:35Played in junior college.
18:37And with the second Maine board player drafted, Jeff Turner, way back in 1984.
18:41What everybody talks about from Jason Kidd right in line.
18:45He says his parents did a great job because his maturity is off the charts.
18:49One of the things he does when he gets on the plane, as Williams gets inside, lays it up and in,
18:55he goes down the plane and shakes everybody's hand on the traveling part.
18:58And now I feel horrible that I didn't do that throughout my career.
19:01But I don't think I've ever seen a player do that.
19:04That's pretty incredible.
19:05And there's just, there's so many different testimonials to his maturity level and his understanding
19:11and responsibility that he has to live up to this potential.
19:14And this is a guy, he's the youngest player in the league.
19:17Shepard's pass inside.
19:18Capella couldn't grab it.
19:20Martin in the game.
19:21Throws it ahead to Williams.
19:23Brandon Williams again, the quickness, but can't finish.
19:25Knocked out of bounds.
19:26Last touch by Gafford.
19:28Are they going to change it?
19:32Blow the second whistle.
19:35Official looking for help right now.
19:40The players are confused whose ball it is.
19:43And now it's going to be the Rockets ball.
19:49Musa Cissé comes in for the first time for the Mavericks.
19:52Benny Smith, Thompson, Capella, Smith, and Reed Shepard right now.
19:57Well, the Rockets, Klay Thompson also making his first appearance.
20:02Shepard, pull-up jumpers, good.
20:04He's so good on that shot.
20:06And they started it.
20:07He comes in the game.
20:08They're going to run that set.
20:09Coming out of the weak side corner.
20:11When he comes off that dribble handoff with that kind of velocity,
20:13he can really elevate off the ground in that 15-foot area to floor.
20:18Thompson lets it fly.
20:19That won't go.
20:20Jabari Smith grabs the rebound.
20:24Thompson being guarded by Caleb Martin.
20:29Jabari Smith looking.
20:31Good defense for Martin.
20:32Capella wanted to get it.
20:34And then Thompson out.
20:35Jabari Smith lines up the three and knocks it down.
20:37They're three of seven from three-point range.
20:40They shoot the ball well.
20:41They just don't shoot a lot of them.
20:42Well, both of these teams, bottom five in the league in makes and attempts.
20:47But Houston shoots it at a much higher percentage, seventh in the NBA.
20:50So this is unlike most games you're going to watch in terms of number of three-point shots taken,
20:56although now we've got them back-to-back on both ends.
20:58How about Brandon Williams?
21:00That's his second three-pointer.
21:01He's got ten points off the bench.
21:03He's capable, as you said.
21:05A very difficult guard.
21:06He's so quick with the ball.
21:08And if he could ever get that three-pointer going again.
21:11Shepard to Capella.
21:12Capella a bigger role now without Steven Adams.
21:15Adams lost for the season with the ankle injury and surgery.
21:18The former Rocket back here in Houston.
21:23And this is why they had him as pretty much kind of a third-string center.
21:28The injury to Adams.
21:29That's a big blow.
21:31Williams, are they going to count it?
21:33Yes.
21:33What a shot.
21:34How about Williams off the bench now with 12 points in six minutes?
21:41Well, Jason Kidd refers to his quickness as unguardable.
21:44You know, he might be right because you can already see the number of times that he has gotten by his initial defender.
21:52And that's just great concentration.
21:54Staying with that, Capella couldn't quite get there.
21:56What a difficult shot.
21:58He was not drafted.
21:59He was at Arizona for two years, Brandon Williams.
22:01Only played one because he had a knee problem.
22:04Been cut by Portland, cut by Orlando.
22:06First three years in the league, he played just 74 total NBA games and 57 G League games.
22:13But this year, again, because of the injuries, getting a chance to play, he's had some magnificent games.
22:18And I mentioned his production, his last 14 games, he's around 17 points a game.
22:23And he gets to the line four times in 22 minutes.
22:26And they don't get to the line a lot as a team.
22:28That's a very important contribution that he gives them.
22:31And it helps them get the bonus as well.
22:33And he ties the game up.
22:35Durant sees an opening.
22:36Gets inside.
22:36Nice feed to Capella.
22:38Capella throws it down.
22:41Durant, six points, three assists, four rebounds.
22:44A little bit of everything.
22:45Rockets back up by two.
22:46Shot clock turned off.
22:53Thompson takes it away.
22:54And then a foul.
22:57Emei Udoka immediately signaling for a transition take foul.
23:03The officials will discuss it.
23:04They had a foul to give.
23:09Our officials tonight, Sean Wright, Jason Goldenberg, Simone Jelks.
23:13Talking through it.
23:16One way to negate quickness is, you know, hit him with a blitz with that kind of size for
23:21Amon Thompson.
23:22And we're looking to see if this meets the criteria for a clear path foul.
23:26So, perhaps a clear path foul, which is a huge call.
23:31Two shots and possession with 9.7.
23:35If not, it's just going to be a side out because they did have the foul to give.
23:40Well, it looks like Amon Thompson is clearly out ahead of Brandon Williams when he grabs him by the waist.
23:47Yep.
23:49Sean Wright, the crew chief in his 21st season.
23:55You see those long arms at Thompson.
23:57You know, it's just a tough to throw around that.
24:01And now they clearly have.
24:02But he didn't have.
24:03He didn't have.
24:04It looks like he lost possession.
24:05Let's hear Sean Wright.
24:06The play has been upgraded to a clear path foul when we shoot two shots.
24:14There you go.
24:15And get the ball to the point of the interruption.
24:18So, a costly turnover for Williams, who had a sensational first quarter.
24:22But it's going to lead to some opportunities here for the Rockets with 10.5 remaining.
24:27And then Thompson will shoot the two free throws.
24:32Then the Rockets will get the ball.
24:43Upcoming national TV schedule.
24:45ESPN on Sunday.
24:47Celtics host the Bucs.
24:49Peacock NBC Sunday.
24:51Knicks host the Lakers.
24:52And then the Thunder.
24:55And the Nuggets in Denver.
24:56Some great matchups coming up.
24:58Thompson goes one for two.
25:00Rockets lead is three.
25:03Now, no fouls to give.
25:05Flag sitting down after a 9.2 rebound first quarter.
25:13Trying to get it to Durant.
25:14Najee Marshall.
25:16Good defense there.
25:17Now, Durant against Caleb Martin.
25:19Double team.
25:20Shepard.
25:21Thompson.
25:23Three seconds to go.
25:24Shepard steps back.
25:25Three-pointer won't go.
25:26Capella tips it.
25:28But not enough time to get a shot off.
25:31And the first quarter comes to an end.
25:33Seven lead changes early on.
25:35Kevin Durant.
25:36A little bit of everything.
25:37Eason had seven.
25:38Nine for Flagg with a leading score.
25:40Brandon Williams with 13.
25:42However, the Rockets have the lead.
25:43Saturday primetime on ABC presented by Wingstop.
25:48I'm with the Mavericks' Brandon Williams.
25:50Brandon, you guys got off to a slow start offensively.
25:53Just how did you guys finally start to get going?
25:56Ultimately, we just saw on the game plan.
25:58It's a long game.
25:59You know, they're a great team.
26:00And with some really good bets over there.
26:02And they're known for having some good starts.
26:03So just balance a long game.
26:06And just take what they give.
26:07What about for you personally?
26:0813 points off the bench.
26:11What's feeling good to you so far tonight?
26:13Just take what the defense gives.
26:15I kind of know their game plan.
26:16I know what they're going to do.
26:17So it's all about just coming out here and executing it.
26:20Thanks for your time.
26:21Mike.
26:21All right, Elise.
26:22Great start for one.
26:23They list him as 6-1.
26:24I don't know if he's 6-1.
26:26But, boy, is he fast.
26:30Thompson, Finney-Smith, Shepard, Capella, and Durant.
26:34Shepard with that beautiful stroke.
26:35It's his second field goal.
26:37Yeah, off that pin-down action.
26:39Loves coming up that side of the floor.
26:40And, again, you see how high he gets off the floor when he catches the ball.
26:44It makes up, you know, for being a smaller guard sometimes against bigger defenders.
26:48Blake Thompson gets it inside.
26:52Gafford gathers.
26:53And this time able to finish.
27:03Durant guarded by the 6-1 Williams.
27:07And then Thompson.
27:08Shepard swings it.
27:09Finney-Smith, nice adjustment.
27:14And able to back it home.
27:15Finney-Smith was the first 27 games of the season coming back from ankle surgery.
27:22This is just his 16th game.
27:25First year with the Rockets.
27:28Excellent pro with some playoff experience.
27:31Former Mav, of course.
27:31Gafford on the foul.
27:34Well, that's good work right there by Gafford.
27:36First, he sets a great screen to free up Klay Thompson for that 18-foot jumper.
27:41And then, immediately, he runs to the rim.
27:43He's in perfect position for the put-back.
27:45And then he's still trying to get back in rhythm.
27:48Misses that.
27:49Martin brings it up the floor.
27:53Martin's had some good games recently.
27:55Sporadic minutes early.
27:57Thompson and Durant, former teammates with the Warriors.
28:01Nice bounce pass.
28:03Scafford stripped by Shepard.
28:04Knocked out of bounds.
28:06Going to stay the same way.
28:07Seven to shoot for Dallas.
28:08We're seeing another player, Derek Lively, out as well for Dallas.
28:20You say it every time we do a Dallas game as Klay Thompson knocks down the three.
28:24If healthy, you just would love to see the potential if they had Kyrie Irving,
28:29if they had Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, Dante Exum.
28:32And particularly the way Klay Thompson's been shooting the ball now for a long stretch.
28:36He just looks like he's moving really well.
28:38He's got great lift.
28:40And he's back to that consistency that we've known Klay Thompson to be about throughout his career.
28:47Capella throws that up and in.
28:48Rockets back up by two.
28:51Spin move.
28:54Still Dallas ball.
28:56This is what I'm talking about for Klay Thompson.
28:58He missed a couple already, but he's so good at getting separation coming off of those screens.
29:03And he's 40 for 86 over his last 10 games.
29:0846% from the three-point line.
29:11Has accepted the roll off the bench.
29:13And as you said, heating up.
29:14Lost at that time.
29:15Durant, Shepard, Evan will not get loose.
29:18And a reach-in foul going to be called.
29:19Najee Marshall, who cannot believe the call.
29:23And Williams grabbing his right knee.
29:24Williams with the 13 points in that first quarter.
29:36Shepard, good sportsmanship there.
29:38Going over, checking on him.
29:47Another head of Shepard.
29:48Knocked him into the knee.
29:50Went to grab it right away.
29:51He's going to come out.
29:55Nimhard will check in.
29:57Ryan Nimhard, the rookie from Gonzaga.
30:00Andrew's little brother.
30:02That's not a good limp right now.
30:04No, you love seeing guys, you know, bounce up.
30:07Get back up on two feet after something like that.
30:10But he certainly is walking very gingerly over to the Mavericks bench.
30:14Capella.
30:15A little razzle-dazzle.
30:17Unable to finish.
30:18Cooper Flagg back in.
30:19Throws it ahead to Thompson.
30:20Thompson off the bounce to Gafford.
30:22Gafford can't get it to fall.
30:24Durant leads the break the other way.
30:27Durant pulls up.
30:28Three-pointer well short.
30:30Flagg the rebound.
30:35Nimhard, also undrafted player.
30:38Got a lot of extra playing time.
30:39He's had some excellent games.
30:41Flagg sets three-pointer.
30:48Can't get it.
30:50Rebound Jabari Smith.
30:53That's still the one part of his game that he's trying to tighten up.
30:57He's gotten better.
30:58He has shot a higher percentage over the last couple of months.
31:00But it's still a work in progress.
31:03Jabari Smith misses.
31:05Well, it was another Mavs rookie years ago that only shot 21% from three-point range as Flagg throws it down.
31:11Cooper Flagg with the flush.
31:14That rookie was Dirk Nowitzki.
31:1721% his rookie year.
31:19So, I think he finished fine.
31:21He sure did.
31:22And I'm not sure I remember Dirk doing this his rookie year.
31:26But Cooper Flagg gets a gap in the defense and knows how to finish.
31:30You keep telling me that.
31:36Player pulse.
31:38There you see the two scorers we highlighted.
31:41Start of the game.
31:42Both guys off to good starts.
31:44DraftKings, the number one sportsbook for live betting.
31:46Use promo code SPLASH when you sign up.
31:50Just over four minutes gone by second.
31:52Chengun still looking for his first points.
31:54Backs in.
31:55Pulls back.
31:56Shot is up.
31:57Now 0 for 7.
31:58Powell the rebound.
31:59Sengun has got a real good shot at being an all-star.
32:03He's having a nightmare start to begin the game.
32:06Cooper Flagg.
32:07A little hesitation.
32:08Gets inside.
32:09Back shots.
32:10Good.
32:11Wow.
32:12Well, that was a really impressive change of speed there.
32:16He started to get upright like he was going to pull up and shoot that jumper.
32:19And able to get low again with his handle.
32:21Get to the rim.
32:22Tavari Smith answers on the other end with a three.
32:25Smith through to 35% from three.
32:27Rockets back up by one.
32:32Like very aggressive.
32:33Already 5 of 8 from the field.
32:35Mid-range shot at short.
32:36Thompson back to Smith.
32:43Gets past Nimhard.
32:45Shotler is good again.
32:46Eight points for Jabari Smith.
32:49He's the Rockets' leading scorer so far.
32:51And he's been aggressive looking for his offense.
32:53Already six shots.
32:54He's hit a three.
32:55That was a really nice pull up.
32:57Taking what the defense has given him there.
32:59Nimhard can't hit it.
33:00Smith, though, with a rebound.
33:01He's got four of those as well.
33:05And then Thompson attacks.
33:09Smith does the same.
33:10Backs off.
33:11Jumper in and out.
33:12P.J. Washington corrals and pushes.
33:16Thompson.
33:17Nimhard.
33:17Nimhard back to Washington.
33:19Gets inside.
33:20Nice team basketball there from the Mavericks.
33:23Yeah, really nice.
33:23Not settling for something on the perimeter transition.
33:26P.J. Washington just kept running to the rim.
33:28And he took that right into the chest of Shen Goon.
33:31Did not give him an opportunity to jump and get a piece of that at the rim.
33:35Nimhard, three assists off the bench.
33:37He's a pure point guard.
33:39Terrific point guard in college as Durant pulls up.
33:42His shot's short.
33:44Fight for the rebound.
33:45Tipped and taken by Powell.
33:48Nimhard goes right at Durant.
33:50Topson fires away.
33:57One-point game midway through the second.
34:01Mavericks trying to stop a three-game losing streak.
34:04Amin Thompson can't get it.
34:06Gets the follow and fouled on the second opportunity.
34:09So more free throws from Amin Thompson.
34:14So quick off his feet with the second jump.
34:17And Cooper Flagg put his body in position to try to draw that offensive foul.
34:23And Amin Thompson doesn't get the call.
34:25But how quickly Amin Thompson is able to go up and gather his own miss.
34:29Just an elite athlete.
34:31Elite on the offensive glass.
34:32And take a look at there.
34:34Those numbers really impressive.
34:36Those aren't just minutes played.
34:38Those are hard minutes played.
34:40He's got such a motor.
34:42And this part of the game he's really improved on.
34:44He obviously has to improve on his three-point shooting.
34:47But first two years in the NBA, 68% from the free throw line.
34:50Not a great number.
34:51This year he's up to 79% and he's getting there.
34:54Yeah, if he develops, you know, mid-range shot or beyond.
34:56I mean, the league's in a lot of trouble because of his quickness and athletic ability to get to the rim.
35:02But he has worked on this.
35:04It's really important because he's going to have opportunities to draw contact with the paint.
35:0868% the last two years.
35:09And getting that up 79%.
35:11That's a lot of work.
35:13A special young player.
35:14Such a competitive streak.
35:16Him and his brother, of course, with the Pistons.
35:18Nim hard.
35:18Let's it fly.
35:21The top of the backboard inbounds.
35:23Kogi the rebound.
35:24Here comes Thompson again.
35:26Christie trying to stop him.
35:29Smith.
35:30Shungun.
35:31Shungun.
35:32Finally gets one to go.
35:33It was 0 for 7.
35:35And that forces Jason Kidd to call timeout.
35:37And the Rockets go back up by 5.
35:42Well, it's a matter of time.
35:44You knew Shungun was going to eventually get going offensively.
35:48Finally gets one to drop.
35:56Primetime.
35:56Presented by Wingstop on ABC.
35:59It's brought to you by Burger King.
36:00You rule.
36:02Well, tomorrow afternoon, the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic on ESPN and the ESPN app at 330 Bucks and Celtics to tip off Black History Month.
36:13This game is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the association's first black players, Chuck Cooper, Matt Sweetwater, and Earl Lloyd.
36:23So wonderful at the league to keep their memories and their significance alive.
36:29Today's players, today's players, some perhaps not aware of what these men did for them.
36:34The word pioneer gets thrown around a lot.
36:36We had three of the great pioneers in all of sports as Washington is fouled.
36:44Cooper was the first black player drafted.
36:47Clifton, the first black player to sign an NBA contract.
36:50And Earl Lloyd, the first black player to appear in an NBA game.
36:57So that'll be tomorrow in Boston.
37:01P.J. Washington to shoot a couple, four points, four boards for P.J. Washington.
37:09Of course, a year ago was the trade that Maverick fans are still hurting about.
37:16But two trading deadlines ago, Mavericks made two really good deals, getting P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.
37:23Both those players, a big part of the team, made it to the NBA Finals in 2024 before losing to the Celtics.
37:31Washington's the real deal, just a good, tough two-way player.
37:35He's one of the best rebounders in this league for guys his size, also up there.
37:43Blocking a half a game at 6'7", you rarely see that.
37:47Shang-Goon spins too strong, but a foul.
37:53Shang-Goon thought he got fouled on a couple of ones early, so he's going to get his first free throws.
37:57Powell picks up his first.
37:59I heard Shang-Goon talking to the guys with Ernie, Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny.
38:10Talking about when he was 12 years old, he was over six feet tall.
38:13He left his family for a better basketball opportunity.
38:17He was 12 years old playing against 16-year-olds.
38:20And when he talks about it, he says the coach was killing us with his words and with his practices.
38:25He said he was so tough on us, he hated it then.
38:29But appreciates it now, he says, because that coach made me better.
38:33And he recently signed a $185 million contract.
38:36So the tough times were difficult back when he was a kid.
38:39But imagine being 12 years old, away from your family, playing against 16-year-olds.
38:43I played one year in France before I got to the NBA and had a 15-year-old teammate professional on that team.
38:50And I couldn't figure how he was getting through those grueling two-a-days that lasted the entire season.
38:57Christie knocks down the three-pointer.
38:59And Dallas back within three.
39:03And what a find.
39:04You're talking about the two trading deadlines for the Mavericks in these last two.
39:08And Christie came here in that trade, the Luka AD trade, and he certainly was a lot more than a throw.
39:15And he has become a big-time offensive weapon for the Mavericks.
39:19And he's got such a bright future.
39:21Shang-Goon gets that one to go.
39:25So after missing his first seven, Shang-Goon with a couple of buckets.
39:28Rockets back up by five.
39:31Washington fakes.
39:33Try to draw a foul.
39:36It's Ari Eason.
39:36Now, Kogi goes inside.
39:40Goes reverse.
39:41Can't get at the fall.
39:42Gafford couldn't hold on.
39:43Smith up top.
39:45Thompson back to Smith.
39:48Shang-Goon calling for it.
39:50Big height advantage on Washington.
39:53Thompson swings it.
39:53Eason up top.
39:56Jabari Smith.
39:56Good clean look.
39:57It's good.
39:59Jabari Smith, his third three-pointer.
40:01Excellent ball movement from the Rockets.
40:02And it's just beautiful ball movement.
40:04Triggered by Shang-Goon.
40:05Getting that ball out of the post.
40:08Thompson on the flash.
40:09And then immediately reverses that ball to the opposite corner.
40:13A lot of velocity.
40:14And at that point, you're just chasing the ball.
40:16So there's the cut.
40:17That is a rocket pass to that left corner.
40:20And now, at that point, you just keep moving it.
40:23One more open body.
40:25And there's just no way Dallas can recover for that.
40:27Smith steps into another one.
40:2816 assists for the Rockets.
40:32Washington goes inside.
40:33Layup can't get it.
40:34But Gafford on another follow.
40:36Gafford now 8.7 rebounds.
40:39Always around the glass.
40:40You know, such a threat.
40:42Anytime that ball goes up on the rim,
40:44he's a guy that you have to make sure you've got a body on.
40:49Decent.
40:50Flag may have gotten a piece of it.
40:52Second effort from Eason.
40:53Can't get it.
40:54Ball deflected.
40:55Good job from Shang-Goon.
40:56Javari Smith goes in the back.
40:58On a deflection, you can go back and get it.
41:00So that backcourt violation.
41:02There was no control on the rebound.
41:07Eason.
41:08Shot clock winding down.
41:10Spins.
41:11One foot.
41:12Can't get it.
41:12Shang-Goon's tip misses.
41:13Gafford couldn't hold on.
41:15Thompson can.
41:16And throws it up and in.
41:18Yeah, that's sometimes.
41:19The Rockets just overwhelm you with the glass.
41:21They have so many different guys.
41:23Typically two on every possession.
41:24Sometimes they're sending three crashing to the glass.
41:28And you just end up with numbers and you get an easy one.
41:31Nice pass inside.
41:32Shang-Goon lost his man.
41:34Marshall spotted Gafford in an easy bucket.
41:36By the way, that's already nine offensive rebounds.
41:39Brittany Udoka's team.
41:40He's not happy with that last defensive play.
41:43They're one of the best offensive rebounding teams so far in NBA history.
41:48But they're without their best offensive rebounder, though.
41:50Steven Adams for the rest of the season.
41:52Shang-Goon can't get that to go.
41:55And then call for a foul.
41:58That's going to be his second.
41:59Well, imagine, you know, having an offense where you get, you know, 38% of your misses.
42:04You get another opportunity to go get to basketball.
42:07It makes up for a lot of mistakes or inefficiency some nights offensively
42:12when you can just go get extra possessions.
42:16Usually the teams that lead the league in offensive rebounding
42:19are some of the worst shooting teams.
42:21Obviously, you have more availability to get them off the misses.
42:25But they've been top ten.
42:26They've been as high as fifth in the NBA in field goal percentage.
42:29Currently ninth.
42:31And you hit on it.
42:32They don't take a lot of threes, which lends itself to long offensive rebounds.
42:36So most of their work is done in the shots inside 20 feet.
42:40And they're still able to go get those offensive putbacks.
42:43Marshall fouled by Smith.
42:45They're in the penalty.
42:45So Najee Marshall will shoot.
42:50Rockets, meanwhile, just one turnover in the first half as we check in with Lisa.
42:54Yeah, Mike.
42:54I think you guys were talking earlier about just the season that Najee Marshall has had.
42:59And because he's been playing so well, naturally, he's been in trade rumors in the recent weeks.
43:06And I asked him about that this morning at Shootaround.
43:09He says he really has mixed feelings about it.
43:11Yes, he feels blessed to be playing well.
43:13He knows he's one of the hottest talents in the league right now and that other teams want him.
43:17And he said that part of it, that's fire.
43:20But he said being a part of trade rumors is also scary because it's a situation he's never been in before in his career.
43:26So the unknown of it all is unsettling.
43:29And he said it really kind of has him on edge, feeling a little bit nervous.
43:33So, Legs, were you ever traded?
43:34Is that something you can relate to?
43:36I was traded one time, Lisa, but it was in the offseason, so it's a little bit different.
43:41But I've been on teams where there was a lot of rumors, right, around guys heading into the deadline.
43:46And it does cause a little bit of anxiety in the locker room, particularly for the guy whose name is out there.
43:51And your mind starts to swirl a little bit, thinking about, you know, not being here and the guys that you're playing with and love and where you could end up.
43:59So, yeah, there's a lot of anxiety that can go into that for sure.
44:02Your life gets uprooted in the middle of something as Marshall gets inside and banks it home, went right into Durant.
44:09Durant took a shot to the face.
44:11You found out you were traded on a cruise.
44:13I was on the season ticket holder cruise.
44:16Thompson to Smith.
44:17And I was doing clinics for everybody and the whole thing when I found out about that.
44:22Yeah, that was insult to injury, but at least I was, you know, on a nice cruise at the time.
44:28Five-point lead for the Rockets.
44:31Cooper Flagg drives on Durant.
44:34Shang-Goo in the rebound.
44:35Shot clock turned off.
44:36Jabari Smith inside to Thompson.
44:43Shang-Goo corner to Durant.
44:46Clean look for three.
44:47Got it.
44:49Durant's first three-pointer.
44:50Now nine points and the lead is eight, equaling the largest of the first half.
44:54You know, it's funny.
44:54Three different guys had an opportunity to shoot it.
44:57They thought they were going for one shot, but when it ends up in the hands of Kevin Durant, he's not going to hesitate.
45:01Marshall misses.
45:02The tip won't go.
45:05And that will end the first half.
45:07Kevin Durant with nine points.
45:09Jabari Smith, 13.
45:11Meanwhile, Brandon Williams, 13 points for Dallas, but he's back in a locker room with that knee injury.
45:16Coming up, the halftime.
45:18Presented by Trem Faya.
45:21With Ernie, Shaq, Kenny, and Charles.
45:23Of course, Kenny had some great moments here in Houston.
45:26Remember the 94 finals against the Knicks.
45:29Had a big game seven.
45:31Right now, halftime.
45:32Eight-point lead for the Rockets.
45:44Well, Dallas won both games at home over the Rockets this year.
45:49Houston trying to return the favor.
45:50And Kevin Durant and company, beating 59-51 after 24 minutes.
45:58The halftime report is presented by Trem Faya.
46:03Welcome to all you fans, wherever you're shivering tonight.
46:07What's it here?
46:08About 5 degrees here in Atlanta with the wind chill?
46:11Man, alive.
46:12I just came from L.A.
46:12It was 85 degrees.
46:14Was it really?
46:14I got off the plane.
46:16I was like, I'm going back.
46:17Yeah, we've had to go.
46:19We've had all kinds of stuff down here.
46:20That's Shaq.
46:21That's Kenny.
46:22That's Chuck.
46:23I'm Ernie.
46:24What?
46:26What's that?
46:27Chief.
46:28Chief.
46:28Chief.
46:28Chief.
46:28I got to get that ingrained in my head.
46:33Let's go to the halftime highlight presented by Trem Faya.
46:38The good and the bad for the Houston Rockets, only shooting 42% and have allowed 16 second-chance
46:45points.
46:45But that assist-to-turnover ratio, you'd take that any day, 16-to-1.
46:51And that's where we start, Shaq.
46:52Yeah, nobody's really playing great for the Rockets.
46:54However, Jabari Smith has 13 points, five out of nine for shooting.
46:57But like you said, they are moving the basketball exceptionally well.
47:01And this, you know, when you move the ball like this, the defense can't be set up.
47:04Right here, it's great ball movement.
47:05Everybody's touching the ball.
47:07Kenny and Chuck knows, and everybody touches the ball.
47:09Everybody does things that they don't like to do.
47:11You start playing defense better.
47:13You start rotating better.
47:14Right here, the ball is just moving.
47:15Great pass by Durant right there.
47:17My main man, Clint Capella, right here, getting side of the defense.
47:20Nice pass.
47:21Better pass.
47:21Better pass.
47:22Listen, the ball is not sticking.
47:23Because, you know, in this league, the ball likes to stick.
47:25And guys like to do between their legs.
47:27But that half, 16 assists, one turnover, pretty good.
47:31Yep.
47:3159-51.
47:32Your score, we talked about Cooper Flagg, that big 49-point game.
47:35That he had the other night.
47:38And Charles talking about how prepared he was to come into the NBA.
47:44Yeah, you know, shout out to Coach Shire at Duke.
47:48Because, number one, you can tell he's had a great coach in his career.
47:52But also, you can tell he's mentally prepared.
47:55Because he's playing at such a serious level.
47:58Because nobody expected him to come in and dominate from the beginning.
48:03And now, he's got that reputation.
48:06They're going to be looking for him.
48:07But I'm impressed with the kid.
48:08I think his future is bright.
48:10How about it, Kenny?
48:12Yeah.
48:12I'll go back and talk about Mr. Flagg.
48:15You know, even though, Ernie, you were about to go.
48:17No, I wasn't.
48:18Oh, you were about to go?
48:19No, we were talking about Mr. Flagg.
48:21And the one thing about him is, you have to think of him not as a right-handed basketball player.
48:25You think of him as a left-handed basketball player.
48:27As the shot comes and we get the offensive rebounds of your Dallas Mavericks,
48:31when the ball comes out, right here, you have the pick and roll being set.
48:35Everything for him is to go left.
48:38Because he's such a tough finish.
48:40So, freeze it here.
48:40So, now, you think of him as a James Harden coming into the lane.
48:46But the difference is, when he turns back into his right-hand shooting,
48:49you're fouling him, and now he gets an M1.
48:52And they talked about his strength for a young player.
48:54Again, offensive rebounds, you put back out.
48:57When the ball goes back out to him, he is very dominant left.
49:01But he can also go right.
49:03But when he finishes with his left, he is like the James Harden with a right-handed player.
49:10He loves to go left, but he will finish with both hands.
49:13Tough player.
49:14It seemed to me last year, when we watched him at Duke,
49:16it was like the thing that impressed me was he let the game come to him.
49:21Which still does.
49:22Yeah, you still have.
49:22I mean, that's a talent to develop.
49:26Number one, I agree with you.
49:27But the thing I like, he's a passer, too.
49:30He's a willing passer.
49:31A lot of young guys, they're like, let me get mine.
49:34But he is a really good passer.
49:36And the one thing I noticed, especially in the tournament,
49:38but, man, when he finally gets to play with other really good players.
49:43AD, Kyrie.
49:43Like, when he gets to play, he's going to be passing those passes to AD.
49:47Well, maybe not.
49:48And Kyrie, it's only going to help his game.
49:5213-point first half for Cooper Flagg, but the Mavs down by 8-59-51.
49:57You're thinking the trade deadline might not be him.
49:59You know something we don't know.
50:00You have been watching the halftime report presented by Trem Faya.
50:06Chuck Niko.
50:06Chuck Niko.
50:14How about those Charlotte Hornets?
50:16The dream team.
50:17We prefer to be called.
50:18Taking a five-game winning streak into this one.
50:20And looking up top, it's Miles Bridges from LaMelo Ball.
50:25They led by 13 in the fourth quarter.
50:27Here comes San Antonio.
50:28Stephon Kess.
50:29But we got some guys out here.
50:31Oh.
50:32And Wemby.
50:32Go get that, young guy.
50:34Two-point game.
50:36Bridges.
50:37Good pass.
50:38He's in our daddy's.
50:39Oh, look at what he did to Wemby there.
50:41One, two, three.
50:42Watch ahead.
50:43Last chance.
50:44Watch ahead, boy.
50:45Wemby off the mark.
50:47Well, they just tased Ryan.
50:51Bye-bye.
51:15Bye-bye.
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