Two games with the Dallas Mavericks and two performances that suggest Sergio de Larrea didn't arrive in the NBA to wait his turn. In the second NBA China Games matchup, the Valladolid point guard didn't repeat his perfect 3-for-3 from his debut. Instead, he delivered something more valuable for a coach: 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 22 minutes. With him on the court, Dallas was +34 against Houston, the game's best plus-minus. The Mavericks' revenge (132-115) bore much of his signature.
His best stretch came at the end, when the game got completely out of hand. De Larrea added 4 points and 4 assists in the fourth quarter, two of them converted into dunks by Zaccharie Risacher and Tobi Lawal. He also scored on a basket following his own offensive rebound, a sign that he's unfazed by the contact and pace of an NBA opponent.
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Irving, 587 days later
The other big name of the night was Kyrie Irving. After missing the entire previous season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, the point guard returned to play a game 587 days later. He did so with good feelings: 17 points in 21 minutes and team-high scoring. Behind him, Risacher added 16, and Cooper Flagg, Max Christie and Naji Marshall, 14 each.
The game was more competitive than the final score suggests. Dallas led by as much as 15 in the first half and went into halftime up 58-51. Houston, which played without Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün or Fred VanVleet, responded after the break and took the lead. The Mavericks answered with more defensive pressure and more fast breaks: they forced 21 turnovers, closed the third quarter at 95-85 and in the fourth quarter, with De Larrea on the court, it was no contest.
For the Rockets, Marcus Smart posted 20 points in his debut with the team after arriving from the Lakers, and Reed Sheppard added 17. Neither could prevent the Macao series from ending in a tie.
The matchup will continue very soon, as the Mavericks and Rockets open the regular season on October 21 in Houston. Dallas, still without Santi Aldama as he recovers from March knee surgery, will close its preseason before facing the Pelicans and the Hawks.