Dante Exum came up clutch to make two crucial free throws and a pair of 3-pointers to help the Dallas Mavericks to a 113-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday afternoon.
Exum, who missed 22 games across January and February with a plantar fascia sprain in his right foot and then right knee bursitis, has been solid since making his return off the bench for Dallas.
The Australian had been given a starting role before suffering the injury, rewarded for a stellar stretch in December which saw Exum average 15.3 points and 4.5 assists.
But even if Exum didn’t start on Wednesday the Mavericks coaching staff clearly trusted him, keeping the versatile guard on the floor down the stretch and he repaid the faith.
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Exum’s eight points in the fourth quarter brought his total to 16 to go with a pair of assists and a rebound while the 28-year-old also finished with a game-high plus-minus of +16.
“Exum down the stretch was huge, hit big threes,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said post-game.
Those clutch shots from Exum were particularly important as superstar teammate Luka Doncic had a rough shooting night, going 6-for-27 from the field on the way to 18 points.
Still, Doncic had a triple-double after also recording 10 rebounds and 16 assists in the win.
“… Luka had a lot of great looks tonight, it just didn’t fall for him but being able to find his teammates and trust them down the stretch is what a leader does and he did that tonight,” Kidd said.
Kyrie Irving, meanwhile, started the game 7-for-7 from the field and finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Exum’s production though was particularly important as too often the Mavs have been overly reliant on their superstar duo of Irving and Doncic to lead the way on the offensive end.
That is particularly true as Dallas prepares for a possible postseason run in a stacked Western Conference that is headlined by deep Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Clippers rosters.
“Exum has missed some time this year… but he’s not afraid of taking big shots,” former NBA point guard Derek Harper said in commentary for Bally Sports Southwest.
“A lot of people make a big deal out of starting. He doesn’t start anymore but who finishes the game? The staff obviously has a lot of confidence in Exum. He’s a special, special player.
“The coaches certainly trust the guy that can make plays but more importantly make shots. That’s what he’s done here in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a quiet type of a personality but when he’s on the floor he’s just comfortable and I think he gives his coach a sense of comfort when he’s out there. He’s kind of like a coach out on the floor.”
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“Super high IQ player, unquestionably,” added fellow commentator Mark Followill.
Exum’s 16 points on Wednesday marked his highest effort off the bench according to Mavericks PR, while Dallas improved to 7-1 this season when he has scored over 15 points.
The Australian has also now shot 50 per cent from deep this season, easily a career-high mark given Exum’s previous top mark stood at 35.1 per cent in his 2019-20 campaign at Cleveland.
He was averaging 1.5 attempts per game then compared to 1.9 this season too, which makes the transformation of Exum’s outside shooting even more incredible.
“It’s tough playing on the road but we stick together as a team and a unit and that’s what we’re going to need going forward, so I’m proud of everyone tonight,” Exum told Bally Sports Southwest post-game.
“… It’s just basketball. I’m just a competitor and want to win. So no, not nervous at all [down the stretch].
“It’s a team game. Luka is going to do what he does. When he gets doubled he’s going to pass it and facilitate and that’s what he did.”