Australian Josh Green has made a big statement by scoring a NBA career-high 29 points on the same day his Dallas Mavericks team acquired eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving.
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Green and fellow youngster Jaden Hardy both had 29 points to lead the short-handed Mavericks, playing without superstar Luka Doncic, as they stunned the Utah Jazz 124-111 in Salt Lake City on Monday night.
The big trade deal which puts Irving alongside Doncic is expected to boost the Mavericks' title push as they sit fifth in the hotly-contested Western Conference with a 29-26 record.
The 22-year-old Green could also benefit with expanded duties after the Mavericks delivered key role players Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the exchange.
"Luka (and Irving) are going to have their amazing nights, but if we want to be a championship team it's about the rest of us being able to step up," Green said.
Irving and traded Nets teammate Markieff Morris arrived in Dallas on Monday to undergo physicals and were not available for the game.
But their new team rallied behind Green, who averages 8.1 points, and Hardy, who scores 5.6 per game.
When Green was on the court, the Mavericks outscored the Jazz by an astonishing 39 points and won their first game in eight tries without Doncic, their leading scorer with 33.4 points a game.
"The guys believed and Josh set the tone," Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. "He understands how to play and he's not afraid of the moment."
Doncic (heel bruise) missed his third game in 10 days.
Before Monday's game, Dallas coach Jason Kidd said the Mavericks plan to have Irving and Morris join them on their current five-game road trip in time for their Wednesday game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It's uncertain if Doncic will be healthy enough to play by then, however.
Irving was averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds for the Nets this season.
Meanwhile, the Nets, without injured superstar Kevin Durant for a 13th straight game, were unable to match the Mavericks trade deal day heroics as they slipped to a 124-116 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets' defeat came despite a career-high 47 points from Cam Thomas while Paul George scored 29 points and Kawhi Leonard added 24 for the Clippers.
Australia's Ben Simmons remained unavailable for the Nets for a fifth straight game due to knee soreness but could play Tuesday against Phoenix on the second night of a back-to-back.
In San Francisco, fellow Aussie Josh Giddey contributed 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as his youthful Oklahoma City Thunder outfit were outgunned 141-114 by defending champions Golden State Warriors.
For the Warriors, Klay Thompson scored 42 points with a season-high 12 3-pointers, Jordan Poole added 21 points and 12 assists starting in injured Stephen Curry's place.
with the AP
Australian Associated Press