The Mavericks overcome Magic with big contributions from Dereck Lively II and Jaden Hardy.
The Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic put on an absolutely bloody show on Monday night as they engaged in a back-and-forth brawl. But when all was said and done, the Mavs triumphed over Orlando at the American Airlines Center, winning 131-129.
In addition to Luka Doncic’s double-double (45 points, 15 assists, and 9 rebounds), rookie center Dereck Lively II and guard Jaden Hardy both contributed to Dallas’ (26-21) comeback from a 16-point deficit in the second half. With 20 points, a season-high, and seven assists, Hardy shot 8–9 from the field and 4-5 from beyond the arc. Eighteen of Hardy’s twenty points came in the first half, which prevented Dallas from getting too far ahead before the second half started and kept Orlando (24–23) within striking distance.
For USA TODAY Sports, Jerome Miron Hardy remarked, “I felt very comfortable out there.” “Just reading the defense once I enter the paint, playing off closeouts, and finding my teammates for open shots.” Hardy’s performance and the way he provided the team with a spark off the bench were praised by Mavs head coach Jason Kidd. In order for the young guard to put together more performances like he did against Orlando, Kidd also pointed out that he needs to be more consistent.
“We’ve got young players who can, at times, be inconsistent, and that’s just the nature of the game,” Kidd stated. “But we’re going to continue teaching and remain upbeat. Playing at a high level, [Jaden] Hardy is now able to stack that.”
With 20 points and 11 rebounds, Lively had a double-double. She shot 8–9 from the field with efficiency. Additionally, he had to play through blood on his nose after Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. struck him in the face late in the fourth quarter. With 36.1 seconds remaining in the game, Lively made two free throws and converted an alley-oop from Doncic to give the Mavs a six-point lead. For the third time in his rookie campaign, Lively recorded a double-double with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He currently has eight double-doubles.
Dallas’ young players are beginning to mature, which is encouraging for a team that has suffered a lot of season-ending injuries. Dallas might be missing two pieces to make a run in the second half if Lively and Hardy perform as well as they did against the Magic.
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Mavericks led by Mark Cuban Maintain the Dogecoin Dream: What Will Happen to DOGE in 2024?
The Dallas Mavericks’ Unwavering Support for Dogecoin
In the constantly changing world of cryptocurrencies, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has reaffirmed the team’s use of Dogecoin (DOGE), supporting the meme coin as a reliable means of payment for supporters.
The Function of DOGE in Mavericks’ Trade
Since Bitcoin was first accepted as a form of payment in 2019 and its introduction, the Mavericks have led the way in the sports industry in utilizing cryptocurrencies. By enabling fans, who are affectionately known as “Mavs Fans for Life,” or MFFLs, to buy tickets and merchandise with the digital coin through BitPay in 2021, DOGE’s integration promoted a more inclusive shopping experience.
Cryptocurrency’s Opportunity for Sport
The Mavericks’ unwavering support for Dogecoin coincides with a renewed conversation about the meme coin’s place in the larger payment landscape, especially in light of Elon Musk’s recent focus on platform X’s integrated payment features. The conversation revolves around Dogecoin’s use and how it fits into the payment system, pointing to a possible upsurge for the currency in the payment space.
The Rise in Adoption of Dogecoin in India
In India, a big Dogecoin market, a startling trend has surfaced. In a commentary for Bitinning on X, Kashif Raza notes that DOGE has surpassed BTC as the preferred investment among Indians aged 26 to 35, who make up a sizable portion of the country’s cryptocurrency market. With 40% of the 19 million cryptocurrency investors in the country, this group is quite powerful.
Dogecoin’s Financial Track Record
As of the reporting period, Dogecoin’s value was trading at approximately $0.0812, indicating a 3% increase in a day. A 30-day analysis shows a 10% decline, while the weekly statistics show a slight increase of 0.70%. The six-month analysis shows a 2.85% increase, but the difference from the coin’s peak of $0.7316 indicates that it has inherent volatility.
