The Dallas Mavericks' stars shined bright on Tuesday night, as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving put up 41 and 27 points respectively in a win over the defensive-minded Houston Rockets to tip off a three-game homestand.
Aside from the star power, though, there were several key contributions from Mavs role players that helped put the team over the top, including the play of eighth-year forward Derrick Jones Jr.
Going into Tuesday's game, Jones had started every game for Dallas this season, but against the Rockets, head coach Jason Kidd decided to shake things up by starting Josh Green and bringing Jones off the bench. He responded like a pro's pro, putting up 15 points and six rebounds while shooting 5-7 overall, 2-3 from deep and 3-3 from the free-throw line in 34 minutes of action.
“We came up with that decision just to see how Josh [Green] handled it and also see how D. Jones [Derrick Jones Jr.] handled it. We talked to D. Jones about it and he's a pro, man," Kidd said.
"He said, ‘All I want to do is win. Whatever you need me to do, Coach.’ He didn't do anything to come out of the starting lineup. Sometimes we lose focus, and everybody gets caught up in having their name announced to start the game but it's about finishing the game. That's where you get paid. D. Jones is a pro, that's why we wanted him. It's not just because of the shots or the rebounds or the defense he's playing. He's about winning, and he showed that by giving a teammate the opportunity to start and Josh did a great job starting.”
Jones, who was signed to a veteran minimum contract in mid-August, has become one of the biggest steals of the offseason. He's averaging a career-high 8.6 points and 3.6 rebounds while also making some solid hustle plays on defense in 22.4 minutes per game. Jones is also shooting 48.6 percent from the field and a career-high 38.1 percent from 3-point range (career-high 3.7 attempts from deep per game as well).
"It goes back to just the trust and the chemistry I have with the guys. From when I first got in here, [Coach Kidd] told me to play my game and be who I am," Jones said.
"Every second of the day, my family means everything to me. That's just how I am. These guys on this [stat] sheet with me, on the Dallas Mavericks, they are my family as well. Like I said, my family means everything to me. When I'm on the floor with them, whatever they need me to do, I'm doing it ... Whatever it takes for the team to be successful. If I’ve got to dive on the ball, dive out of bounds like Dennis Rodman used to do, I'm sure I'll get it done. My family means everything to me, always."
As the season progresses, Jones' chemistry with his new Mavs teammates should continue to grow even stronger than it already is. And being just 26 years old, Jones still has a lot of good basketball ahead of him. At this current rate, he could find himself in Dallas a lot longer than just one year when it's said and done.
More must-reads: