Dereck Lively II had a strong performance for the Dallas Mavericks against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. He scored 14 points and dished out 8 assists, exceeding his projections by 5 assists. Lively also led the game in blocks during his 26 minutes on the court. The Mavericks fell short with a final score of 112-102.
What It Means
Lively’s 8-assist game marks a significant achievement, as it is one of only two times this season he has finished in the top five among all players in assists. His recent performances are showing improvement, with him averaging 2.5 assists per game this season. Despite playing fewer minutes than usual, Lively’s shooting was perfect at 6-for-6 from the field. This year, he ranks first on his team in rebounds per game with an average of 8.2 and has consistently been among the top rebounders at his position in 40% of games.
