Mavs big man hopes not to 'jinx' himself chasing Wilt Chamberlain record
Daniel Gafford needed to go 8-for-8 from the field to make history when his Mavericks hosted the Warriors on Wednesday night. The Mavs big man ended up going 5-for-5 in Dallas' 109-99 victory.
Gafford is now just two field goals away from tying Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 35 consecutive makes, which "The Big Dipper" set during a four-game span in Feb. 1967. If Gafford were to make his first three shot attempts when the Mavs travel to Oklahoma City on Thursday, he'd become the new all-time leader with 36 consecutive field goals.
Although Gafford's record would be set in two additional games than Chamberlain's, the magnitude of his feat can't be denied. After Wednesday's game, Gafford was asked if he was "ever going to miss a shot again" as he enters a possible record-setting night on Thursday.
"I don't know," Gafford told reporters. "I'm not going to jinx myself [laughs]. As I always say, my philosophy is to be consistent. At the end of the day, just have fun with the game."
Meanwhile, Mavs guard Kyrie Irving heaped praise upon Gafford for his activity level as a screener, rebounder and rim runner.
"He's been spectacular," Irving said of Gafford. "He's making our jobs as point guards easier, just setting great screens and getting out early and putting pressure on the rim."
Gafford has been a monster on the defensive end, too, blocking seven shots during Dallas' win on Wednesday. Riding his historic stretch, Dallas is on a four-game winning streak. A year after missing the playoffs, the Mavs (38-28) are trying to avoid a play-in situation by finishing with a top-six seed. They are currently just half a game behind the Kings (38-27) from pulling off the ideal scenario.
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