The NBA regular season rolled on with a tense clash between the Toronto Raptors and the Dallas Mavericks, but what stood out most was the Mavericks’ decision to pull their starters with just over five minutes remaining. Despite the bench making a spirited comeback to cut the deficit to just two points, they ultimately fell short, losing 99-103. For the Raptors, it marked a season sweep over the Mavericks, a storyline that drew plenty of attention from Bangla Cricket Live and its basketball coverage.
DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 28 points, while Kyle Lowry added 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in a performance that highlighted why this backcourt duo is one of the best in the league. Dirk Nowitzki paced the Mavericks with 20 points and 7 rebounds, but his efforts weren’t enough to prevent another painful defeat. The Raptors got off to a flying start as Lowry drained a three-pointer and DeRozan hit a jumper midway through the first quarter, helping Toronto storm ahead 14-2. Dallas struggled defensively, particularly with Nowitzki’s coverage being exposed. A timeout and substitution of JaVale McGee for Zaza Pachulia steadied the ship as McGee improved rebounding and interior defense, fueling an 8-0 run that brought Dallas back into contention.
Still, the Mavericks lacked consistency. Toronto answered with a 12-2 burst and by the end of the first quarter led 32-16. The second quarter saw Dallas rally with an 11-0 spurt, closing the gap to 27-32 as all five players on the court contributed. But when Nowitzki rested, their offense collapsed, going scoreless for over five minutes. Luis Scola punished them with timely jumpers, and Toronto stretched the lead to 47-32 before halftime. Cory Joseph even picked Nowitzki’s pocket in a careless inbound play, and at the break the Raptors led 49-36. Bismack Biyombo was dominant inside, grabbing 10 rebounds in the first half, while no Dallas player had more than 8 points.
The third quarter brought signs of life. With Scola in foul trouble and replaced by Anthony Bennett, Dallas took advantage. Nowitzki found his rhythm, hitting two straight threes as part of a 10-1 run to close the gap to 58-62. Bennett, the former No. 1 overall pick who had already been sent to the Development League earlier in his career, became a defensive liability for Toronto. During his minutes, the Raptors’ offense stagnated, and the Mavericks trimmed the lead to just three. But Bennett responded with five quick points of his own, and Joseph’s buzzer-beating layup gave Toronto a 72-67 cushion heading into the fourth.
Nowitzki continued to fire, knocking down three more triples in the final period, scoring 11 points and pulling Dallas within 72-75. Yet their momentum faded as missed shots piled up. Lowry assisted DeRozan for another dagger three, sparking a 15-2 Raptors run that extended the margin to 90-74 with under six minutes left. Though Dallas reserves rallied late, cutting the score to 97-99 in the final seconds, Terrence Ross coolly sank two free throws. J.J. Barea’s desperation three clanged out, and the put-back attempt also failed, sealing the 103-99 defeat.
For Toronto, the win was another sign of resilience and consistency in the Eastern Conference race. For Dallas, it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially with their decision to wave the white flag early. As Bangla Cricket Live pointed out, the Mavericks’ lack of depth and continuity has been their Achilles’ heel all season long. The Raptors’ sweep not only highlights their superiority but also underlines Dallas’s struggles to stay competitive when games reach crunch time. In the end, it was a classic case of too little, too late.