Kemba Walker

2022 - 12 - 18

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Image courtesy of "The Athletic"

Mavericks and Kemba Walker nearly win despite Luka Dončić's ... (The Athletic)

Dallas chose this game to rest Dončić, yes. But resting Dončić this season isn't a choice.

[Christian Wood](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/christian-wood-9N0XSWw21RX1pkVk/)’s terrific week and several other players in Monday’s mailbag column, and I’ll hold off sharing any further thoughts from this game for that reason. There are specific reasons related to the evolution of this sport that make it almost impossible for these stars to play 82 games, and the broad implementation of sports science and injury management has made it too foolish to ignore that. The Mavericks may have expected to lose, but couldn’t Dončić have made the difference in a one-point defeat? But this is a topic for a much deeper article than this one. She was attending school in Scotland but visiting friends and family in the city when Dončić played there, and she waited an hour after the game to get his autograph. His 32 points on 12-of-25 shooting made it clear why the team signed him, and his 42 minutes provided something closer to the Dončić and Dinwiddie replacement that we’ve all believed this team needed since the summer. [Cleveland Cavaliers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/cavaliers/), days after a decisive defeat to the same team, one that caused me [to write about](https://theathletic.com/4004085/2022/12/15/mavericks-must-examine-present-future/) the need for this season’s entire outlook to be re-examined. But without Dončić or Dinwiddie, who are sometimes Dallas’ two worst defenders, the Mavericks dug deep for a great defensive performance that we’ve come to understand this team is capable of. We understand many of the reasons why the Mavericks are like this, of course, as ridiculous as the results this season can look and feel. And they took Cleveland to overtime despite [Luka Dončić](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/luka-doncic-gMyReUOesjAikT7S/), [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/spencer-dinwiddie-huzVN9MOnuJR3hwP/), [Josh Green](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/josh-green-tWFX9pjqC1g3ojtN/), [Maxi Kleber](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/maxi-kleber-yLF22QB0J9VK3S0v/) and [Dwight Powell](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/dwight-powell-BhTxjrEIUSrtsBS0/) all missing the game. This is a team that will look great some nights, worse on others, and overall isn’t talented enough for title contention. They’re as likely to [beat title contenders](https://theathletic.com/3951747/2022/11/30/luka-doncics-41-point-triple-double-leads-mavericks-over-warriors/) as they are to lose in [historically unprecedented fashion](https://theathletic.com/3917686/2022/11/21/mavericks-nuggets-lose-luka-doncic/).

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Image courtesy of "ClutchPoints"

Kemba Walker explosion sparks Jalen Brunson 2.0 dreams for Mavs ... (ClutchPoints)

The Dallas Mavericks may have lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, but fans are looking at the positive side and celebrating Kemba Walker's big game ...

“Mavericks fans I think Kemba Walker is a better player than Jalen Brunson. On to the next.” A second supporter said, “We all knew what was coming so I’m only going to focus on the positives.

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Image courtesy of "INQUIRER.net"

NBA: Despite Kemba Walker's resurgence, Cavaliers still edge ... (INQUIRER.net)

Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points and Darius Garland collected 18 points and 12 assists to lift the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-99 overtime victory ...

Dallas scored 11 of the first 14 points in the third quarter and claimed a 70-62 lead after Walker drained a 3-pointer with 2:53 remaining. Allen sank a free throw to double the Cavaliers’ advantage before Walker’s driving layup knotted it up. He then sank a 3-pointer on the opening possession of overtime before Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen answered by scoring baskets to give Cleveland a 100-99 lead. Walker had 32 points and seven assists on Saturday. Cleveland cut into the deficit before Reggie Bullock made a 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds to play to keep the advantage at eight points at the end of the third quarter. Cleveland posted a 105-90 victory over Dallas on Wednesday.

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Image courtesy of "The Smoking Cuban"

Kemba Walker earns place in rotation as Mavericks fall to Cavs ... (The Smoking Cuban)

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kemba Walker earned more minutes as the Dallas Mavericks fall to the Cavs without Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie on Dec. 17.

Yes, Cleveland was on the second night of a back-to-back, but Kemba keeping the Mavs in this game and giving them a chance to win was impressive. He did it on Saturday night, and the veteran point guard can help the Mavs moving forward if head coach Jason Kidd just gives him that opportunity. The Mavs have only been playing two ball-handlers and playmakers in their rotation. Dallas was just too shorthanded, but Kemba Walker and the Mavericks had other ideas. The Mavs signed Kemba back in November, but this was just his third chance to play. [defeated the Trail Blazers](https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/luka-doncic-christian-wood-drop-30-dallas-mavericks-win-blazers) on Friday night, but they had to travel to Ohio to face the [Cleveland Cavaliers](https://kingjamesgospel.com/) for their fourth game in six days on Dec.

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Image courtesy of "The Dallas Morning News"

Kemba Walker shines as Luka Doncic-less Mavs fall to Cleveland (The Dallas Morning News)

CLEVELAND -- No Luka Doncic? No Spencer Dinwiddie? Almost no prob for the Mavericks on Saturday night. Dallas lost to the Cavaliers for the second time in.

Cleveland is home to the largest Slovenian population outside of Doncic’s native country itself, and Doncic fans often show out in droves for the Mavericks’ one trip to this Eastern Conference city per season. “Give them credit, they played good defense on a scramble situation, but again, on the road, we have the ball — we’ve got to get a better look.” Walker tallied 32 points in his third appearance as a Maverick, including a layup with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 96 and force overtime. Wood heaved an off-balance 3-pointer in the final seconds, perhaps trying to draw contact. It was a great overall effort. And Spencer Dinwiddie also lost his own perfect attendance mark this season. on the left wing. “I love it, man,” Wood said. He’d played through the Mavericks’ first five back to backs this season — and all of the first 29 games — a new development since January 2021 ACL surgery limited his load last season. Coach Jason Kidd thought sharp-shooting Hardaway would unleash a look from there. The 27-year-old’s center’s miss fell wide of the rim, a stinging finish to his second consecutive double-double (26 points and 14 rebounds in 43 minutes) in his most extensive playing time this season. With the Mavericks down five players crucial to the regular rotation, back-up point guard Walker shined as the offensive orchestrator in Doncic’s absence to rest a right quad strain on the second night of this back to back.

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Image courtesy of "The Sportsrush"

Amidst $2.2 Million Stint, Kemba Walker Questions Who Wouldn't ... (The Sportsrush)

Kemba Walker, who's set to earn $2.2 million this year, rhetorically asks reporters who wouldn't want to play with Luka Doncic.

Walker is a defensive liability so pairing him with Luka in the backcourt may prove to be a bit troublesome for extended minutes. This was the first time Kemba scored over 30 points in a game in 359 days. Kemba Walker led Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets for close to a decade throughout the regular season.

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Image courtesy of "Sports Illustrated"

Kemba Walker Shines for Undermanned Mavs; Jason Kidd to Start ... (Sports Illustrated)

The Dallas Mavericks fell back to .500 on the season with their 100-99 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Although the undermanned ...

If Wood and Walker can play with same aggression we saw on Saturday night in Cleveland while also playing alongside Doncic going forward, the Mavs might be able to turn their season around and be more than just a .500 basketball team. "Being the low-man, especially with Maxi and [Dwight Powell] being out, [I'm trying] to be the anchor for our defense." Hopefully, he can build on this, and we build with him being able to get him minutes with the starting group and guys that come off the bench." In all honesty, Wood should have probably been starting next to Doncic all season, despite his occasional lapses on the defensive end. "We trust Kemba with the ball late and early," said Kidd. Despite the loss, Kemba Walker had a breakout performance in his third game played for the Mavs.

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