In front of thousands of electrifying Dallas supporters within the jam-packed American Airlines Center, the Mavericks put on a show for their first home game of the 2022-23 season. They managed to easily pulverize the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, hammering a 41-point margin at the final buzzer, 137-96.
Phenom Luka Doncic is obviously the star of the night with 32 points, 10 assists and seven boards, but the team’s strong hold of the lead won’t matter without that solid, assisting output of Christian Wood.
Wood came off big again for his second official game as a Mav, dropping a double-double with 25 points, 12 boards to go with three assists. Coming off the bench, this given stat line can only come for a tremendous player, and the big man truly lived up to that reputation.
Feeling the high energy of the fans within AAC for the whole duration of the match, the undrafted veteran can’t deny that he was thrilled to play for Dallas.
“I haven’t really experienced a playoff atmosphere, but today was amazing,” Wood said, per Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News. “I liked it. I loved it.
“I don’t know if you could tell, but I was having fun.”
Though things are just getting started, Doncic is already having that feeling that Wood will be special for their new campaign as a title contender for being professional and willing to step up when it matters.
“I mean, it’s been great,” Doncic on Wood, according to team reporter Landon Thomas. “He’s an amazing player, he listens to us, he accepts his role. He’s just doing amazing stuff out there. It’s only been two games, but he’s going to be very good for us.”
As such, the two even managed to connect for the ultimate highlight of the game for the Mavs, as Doncic converted his defensive effort to an alley-oop connection with the big man.
The new spectacular Mavs duo of Doncic-Wood will vye to extend their winning ways on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
