Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, the Dallas Mavericks found themselves in a familiar position: trailing as the game headed into the fourth quarter. Atlanta had built a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but led by only nine points, 90-81, as the final began. The Hawks’ lead wouldn’t last long.
Even though he shot hadn’t been falling, Dallas’ coaching staff knew that it had to get the ball in the hands of Tim Hardaway Jr. If he got hot, the Mavericks’ deficit could vanish quickly.
“Something happened in, I believe, it was the fourth quarter,” Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said.