The Dallas Mavericks traveled to China this week as part of the NBA Global Games. They finally played their first of two games on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Mavs are playing short-handed for the trip, though. Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki, and Ding Yanyuhang are all out injured. DeAndre Jordan did not make the trip due to a personal matter. Obviously, missing two starters and a franchise legend is not an ideal situation.
It did not hurt the Mavericks early on in Shanghai. They rushed out to a lead behind a hot start from Dennis Smith Jr.