DALLAS — Although he admits that the Dallas Mavericks’ offense sputtered during Thursday’s 112-89 loss in Orlando, assistant coach Melvin Hunt believes rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. took another step forward in his progression while playing without the team’s veterans.
Traveling to Orlando without head coach Rick Carlisle (illness), 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki (rest), leading scorer Harrison Barnes (rest), backup guard J.J. Barea (rest), veteran Devin Harris (rest), starting swingman Wesley Matthews (rest), big man Josh McRoberts (rest), second-year standout Dorian Finney-Smith (left knee soreness) and center Nerlens Noel (rest), the Mavericks (2-1) found themselves severely shorthanded on the second night of a back-to-back.