Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks ran out of subs in their loss to the Suns yesterday.

Dallas began the game with just nine available players. Dwight Powell left the game and didn't return after knocking heads with teammate Kessler Edwards. Brandon Williams left the game and didn't return with left hamstring tightness. Dante Exum and Caleb Martin hit their minute limits.

So, the Mavericks played the final half of the fourth quarter with just their five players who were on the floor, including Edwards, bandaged from his collision with Powell.

Mavericks-Spurs

Dwight Powell returned for Mavericks-Spurs today. So, Dallas has eight healthy players and we avoid – for now – learning what happens when a team lacks enough healthy players to fulfill the CBA requirement of eight players "on the bench" for each regular-season game.

Kyrie Irving

Nate theorized Shams Charania posting in the wake of Kyrie Irving's season-ending injury about Irving's high minutes totals could have stemmed from Irving's camp complaining to Charania about Irving's load. But Irving appears to be pushing back on that narrative.

He posted a photo of himself colliding with Jonas Valanciunas with the caption: "Too many minutes??? Or did I get knocked off balance?"

To answer Irving's question, his injury stemmed from contact. But players are less likely to avoid that type of contact when fatigued. Irving was playing a lot of minutes. Too many minutes? That's far more complicated.

Dunc'd On Live

Watch Nate and me react to the Raptors continued fourth-quarter shenanigans, Draymond Green sticking his foot in his mouth and Oklahoma City's performance yesterday – then break down Thunder-Nuggets, Celtics-Lakers and other NBA news:

Brandon Williams

As we discussed on the pod, Mavericks guard Brandon Williams scored 31 points Friday to near the record for highest-scoring game by a two-way player. Mark Followill actually detailed every two-way player to score 30 in a game. What a fun set of names!

• Alec Peters
• Alex Caruso
• Justin Champagnie
• Brandon Williams
• Jalen Harris
• Tyrese Martin
• Quinn Cook

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers became just the eighth team with multiple independent 14-game win streaks in a season:

• 2024-25 Cavaliers (15- & 14-game streaks)
• 2017-18 Houston Rockets (14- & 17-game streaks)
• 2006-07 Phoenix Suns (15- & 17-game streaks)
• 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers (16- & 19-game streaks)
• 1996-97 Utah Jazz (15- & 15-game streaks)
• 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33-game streak)
• 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (16- & 20-game streaks)
• 1946-47 Washington Capitols (17- & 15-game streaks)

I've seen some say Cleveland is just the seventh team, but I suspect the 1971-72 Lakers – who won 33 straight – are getting omitted. At maximum separation, that's two 14-game win streaks – with a five-game win streak between! That counts.

Nikola Jokic

I am fascinated by games where a player notches an unprecedented combination of the three most-basic box-score stats (points, rebounds, assists). Of course, Nikola Jokic's 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist game Friday qualified.

But the number of unique point-rebound-assist games in NBA history remains 58 – because Jokic's latest inclusion knocked his own 2023 game from the list (26 points, 16 rebounds, 18 assists against the Pelicans).

Scouts

I'm leery of quotes from anonymous scouts – who don't always know what they're talking about and can spout nonsense without repercussion. But this this article from Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN is full of keen analysis.

Jimmy Butler

Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports covers the Jimmy Butler-Warriors honeymoon.

On one hand, we've seen how Butler and his team repeatedly eventually wear on each other. Even the Heat – who once looked perfect for Butler – ran out of patience. As much as Devine rightfully gushes about Butler's fit in Golden State so far, it's worth remembering turbulence is inevitable.

On the other hand, it's not even the postseason yet. I can't wait to see Playoff Jimmy with the Warriors!

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry and a fewer others are creating an eight-figure fund to support Davidson basketball, the college announced. Curry was also named an assistant general manager for Davidson. The donation, not Curry's seemingly ceremonial appointment, is the story – no matter how it's dressed up elsewhere.

-Dan Feldman