‘He’s a special, special player’: Dante Exum comes up ‘huge’ as NBA ‘resurrection’ continues

Dante Exum got here up clutch to make two essential free throws and a pair of 3-pointers to assist the Dallas Mavericks to a 113-107 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday afternoon.

Exum, who missed 22 video games throughout January and February with a plantar fascia sprain in his proper foot after which proper knee bursitis, has been stable since making his return off the bench for Dallas.

The Australian had been given a beginning function earlier than struggling the damage, rewarded for a stellar stretch in December which noticed Exum common 15.3 factors and 4.5 assists.

But even when Exum didn’t begin on Wednesday the Mavericks teaching workers clearly trusted him, protecting the versatile guard on the ground down the stretch and he repaid the religion.

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Exum’s eight factors within the fourth quarter introduced his whole to 16 to go along with a pair of assists and a rebound whereas the 28-year-old additionally completed with a game-high plus-minus of +16.

“Exum down the stretch was huge, hit big threes,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned post-game.

Those clutch pictures from Exum had been significantly essential as celebrity teammate Luka Doncic had a tough taking pictures night time, going 6-for-27 from the sector on the best way to 18 factors.

Still, Doncic had a triple-double after additionally recording 10 rebounds and 16 assists within the win.

“… Luka had a lot of great looks tonight, it just didn’t fall for him but being able to find his teammates and trust them down the stretch is what a leader does and he did that tonight,” Kidd mentioned.

Kyrie Irving, in the meantime, began the sport 7-for-7 from the sector and completed with 28 factors, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Exum’s manufacturing although was significantly essential as too usually the Mavs have been overly reliant on their celebrity duo of Irving and Doncic to cleared the path on the offensive finish.

That is especially true as Dallas prepares for a potential postseason run in a stacked Western Conference that’s headlined by deep Denver, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Clippers rosters.

“Exum has missed some time this year… but he’s not afraid of taking big shots,” former NBA level guard Derek Harper mentioned in commentary for Bally Sports Southwest.

“A lot of people make a big deal out of starting. He doesn’t start anymore but who finishes the game? The staff obviously has a lot of confidence in Exum. He’s a special, special player.

“The coaches certainly trust the guy that can make plays but more importantly make shots. That’s what he’s done here in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a quiet type of a personality but when he’s on the floor he’s just comfortable and I think he gives his coach a sense of comfort when he’s out there. He’s kind of like a coach out on the floor.”

“Super high IQ player, unquestionably,” added fellow commentator Mark Followill.

Exum’s 16 factors on Wednesday marked his highest effort off the bench in response to Mavericks PR, whereas Dallas improved to 7-1 this season when he has scored over 15 factors.

The Australian has additionally now shot 50 per cent from deep this season, simply a career-high mark given Exum’s earlier prime mark stood at 35.1 per cent in his 2019-20 marketing campaign at Cleveland.

He was averaging 1.5 makes an attempt per recreation then in comparison with 1.9 this season too, which makes the transformation of Exum’s outdoors taking pictures much more unimaginable.

“It’s tough playing on the road but we stick together as a team and a unit and that’s what we’re going to need going forward, so I’m proud of everyone tonight,” Exum instructed Bally Sports Southwest post-game.

“… It’s just basketball. I’m just a competitor and want to win. So no, not nervous at all [down the stretch].

“It’s a team game. Luka is going to do what he does. When he gets doubled he’s going to pass it and facilitate and that’s what he did.”