Introduction to the Game
Gabe Vincent pulled up for a three-pointer and nailed it. And then Vincent nailed his next three and his next three and his next, giving him four straight made treys.
Vincent was on fire to start the game for the Lakers during their exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Vincent’s Hot Streak
Before Vincent could even think about getting off his fifth three-pointer, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg smothered him. Vincent stumbled and fell, scrambling to keep control of the ball. He did and passed it to a teammate.
When Vincent got to his feet and got the ball back, the fans began to shout, “Shooot it!” So, Vincent did, nailing his fifth three-pointer over the outstretched hand of the 6-9 Flagg, drawing more cheers from the pro-Lakers crowd.
Vincent was fouled on his sixth three-point attempt, sending him to the free-throw line for three free throws, all of which he made. That gave Vincent 18 points in what seemed like a flash in the first quarter.
Game Statistics
He missed his next two three attempts, but that didn’t seem to matter to the crowd. Vincent had put on a show.
Vincent finished the game with 22 points on six-for-15 shooting and six-for-11 on three-pointers during the Lakers’ 121-94 loss to the Mavericks that saw L.A. get outscored 37-8 in the fourth quarter.
Post-Game Comments
“I just wanted to come out aggressive,” Vincent said. “Obviously we were a few guys down. We knew we needed to play a little fast and I just wanted to come out and be aggressive and look for my shot. Guys found me early. They went in. That’s always helpful.”
He was part of a Lakers’ starting group of Rui Hachimura (19 points), Jaxson Hayes (12 points, 10 rebounds), Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht. None of them played in the game Tuesday night in Phoenix.
Injury Update
Vanderbilt was having a good all-around game until he was forced to leave late in the second quarter with a left quad contusion after banging his left knee with a Mavericks defender. He limped up and down the court, but was still able to score on a dunk after he was injured and he drilled a three-pointer.
But with five minutes and 39 seconds left in the second quarter, Vanderbilt limped back to the Lakers’ locker room and never returned to play. He had five points, seven rebounds and four assists in 13 minutes.
Coach’s Comments
“He can be a really impactful guy on both ends,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about Vanderbilt. “You can see he’s moving better than he was last season. You can clearly tell that he’s spent a lot of time working on his game this summer…Having him be able to guard multiple positions on the perimeter and be a crasher and hopefully a high-level corner spacer and a cutter…He can do a lot.”
The starting five Lakers who did play against the Suns — Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia — didn’t play in the back-to-back game against the Mavericks, Doncic’s former team that traded him to the Lakers in February. Redick said Bronny James didn’t play because of a sprained ankle.
Upcoming Games
The Lakers finish their preseason against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, and from the sounds of things, Doncic and those who didn’t play against the Mavericks will play against the Suns.
“And then Friday, yes, the plan is to do another dress rehearsal and likely play most of our guys,” Redick said before the game. “I don’t know the minutes total, but that’s the plan.”
The Lakers open the regular season Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors at home.
Conclusion
Gabe Vincent’s hot streak from three-point range was a highlight of the Lakers’ preseason loss to the Mavericks. Despite the loss, Vincent’s performance and the comments from Coach Redick suggest that the team is making progress and preparing for the regular season.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the game between the Lakers and the Mavericks?
A: The Mavericks won 121-94.
Q: How many points did Gabe Vincent score in the game?
A: Vincent scored 22 points.
Q: What is the status of Jarred Vanderbilt’s injury?
A: Vanderbilt left the game with a left quad contusion and did not return.
Q: Who will play in the Lakers’ next preseason game against the Sacramento Kings?
A: Coach Redick plans to play most of the team’s regular players, including Luka Doncic, in the game on Friday night.
