Just a Quick One: Lakers and Mavs Game Note

Interesting numbers from two big vs small battles

Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

I promise this one will be quick. But I couldn’t not send you these stats.

Last week, I wrote a lot about the NBA’s shifting approach to size and team building—highlighting the Mavericks as one of the few teams leaning into the recent big-ball revival with consistent two-center lineups. And just yesterday, I broke down how the Lakers and Mavericks are evolving in two very different directions: the Lakers reshaping themselves into a high-volume three-point shooting team, while the Mavs are doubling down on becoming a big, nasty, paint-dominant force. The downside? That approach could run into a 3-vs-2 math problem on the wrong night, like it did in the last Finals.

Last night’s games were a perfect snapshot of that size vs. shooting battle. Both the Rockets—with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams—and the Mavericks—with Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford—rolled out two-big lineups. On the other side, the Lakers and Nets leaned into smaller, wing-heavy units, spacing the floor and firing threes to try to shift the geometry of the game.

Lakers – Rockets breakdown

Four factors and shootin frequency (Source: Cleaning the Glass)

Four Factor Accounting (Source: ESPN)

Before the game, I posted a quick breakdown on X about how the Rockets had won 12 of their last 13 by going huge—stacking the floor with size and crushing opponents on the offensive glass. Ime Udoka stuck with that strategy again last night, leaning on the Adams–Sengun combo. But J.J. Redick had a counter: the Lakers’ big version of small-ball. Wing-heavy lineups with enough length and athleticism to gang rebound and neutralize Houston’s size advantage.

Both teams shot 35% from deep, but the volume made all the difference. The Lakers let it fly, making six more threes than the Rockets—and that and the edge in turnovers ended up being the difference.

Overall, it was a crazy fun, physical, playoff-like game—and the constant lineup battle (big vs. small vs. all-wing) on between Redick and Udoka was super interesting to watch.

Mavs – Nets breakdown

Four factors and shootin frequency (Source: Cleaning the Glass)

Four Factor Accounting (Source: ESPN)