Luka Doncic’s dominance, Kristaps Porzingis’ exit made Rick Carlisle’s Mavs reunion all too familiar

For Rick Carlisle, reminders of his life of the past 13 years were constant after he arrived in Dallas late Friday night with his Indiana Pacers.

Sleeping in his own house. Having breakfast with his wife and daughter. Driving to American Airlines Center. Walking into the arena.

“So familiar,” he said.

Emotions, though, didn’t hit Carlisle full force until the pre-game introductions, when a two-minute video montage of highlights from his 13 seasons as Mavericks coach played on the JumboTron. Carlisle’s eyes welled. He wiped away tears and gave a heartfelt wave as fans gave him a lengthy standing ovation.

And with that, it was back to current-day reality for Carlisle. His tired and shorthanded Pacers fell to the Mavericks, 132-105, with Carlisle witnessing other reminders of his past life: Primarily a big performance from Luka Doncic (30 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds) and a worrisome injury departure by Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis played only 11 minutes before departing with right knee soreness. It’s the same knee on which he had meniscus surgery in October of 2020.

The Mavericks (29-21) improved their record to 13-3 since New Year’s Eve and pulled within one game of fourth-place Utah in the Western Conference — but the prospect of more games without Porzingis, who’s already missed 17 this season, is disconcerting for the franchise.

Coach Jason Kidd said he didn’t have any information about Porzingis’ injury. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Kidd said, though a source later said Porzingis did not travel with the team Saturday night to Orlando for tomorrow’s game against the Magic.

This particular night mostly was about the Mavericks continuing their strong play while honoring Carlisle in his first game back in Dallas since he resigned as coach in June.

The fan ovation was richly deserved. The man coached the Mavericks to their only NBA championship and he’s the winningest coach (555 victories) in franchise history.

“A lot of blessings,” said Carlisle, who never really said a proper goodbye, but before Saturday’s game named a long list of Mavericks staff members and players, current and former, as well as the coach who preceded him, Avery Johnson.

Now, though, the Mavericks are led by Kidd, the point guard of Dallas’ 2010-11 title team and the man Carlisle publicly endorsed to replace him.

“This is now Jason’s time,” Carlisle said. “It’s their time as a staff. They’ve got an amazing opportunity with a young nucleus that could go on long run, for a long time.

“And so that’s exciting. That’s exciting for them. But being, being a small part of that foundation is meaningful to me and all the other coaches that have worked with me.”

Carlisle coached 10 of the 15 Mavericks who suited up Saturday night. He watched Dallas score 72 first-half points while committing only one turnover — three nights after Indiana allowed 158 points to Charlotte at home.

On his 30th birthday, Maxi Kleber contributed 15 points and a career high-tying 14 rebounds. And two games after the Mavericks lost swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. to a foot fracture, Reggie Bullock showed he’s capable of helping to fill the offensive void, sinking 6-of-8 three-point attempts and scoring 23 points — 14 of them in the second quarter.

Carlisle complimented Dallas’ offseason additions of Bullock, Frank Ntilikina and Sterling Brown, calling them “moves that probably are viewed as smaller, that are real enhancers.

“The loss of Tim is going to be big for a while,” Carlisle added, “but, they set the table with enough depth in the wing positions, some defense-first guys that are going to help their defensive numbers get better and better.”

Carlisle even went so far, before and after Saturday’s game, to label the Mavericks as “a major threat in the West.”

Carlisle said Dorian Finney-Smith is a “premier 3&D guy.” Carlisle presided over an assistant coach/player development staff that helped spur the evolutions of players like Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson, Kleber and Dwight Powell — evolutions that are continuing under Kidd and his staff.

Brunson and Finney-Smith, Carlisle added for emphasis, are players that would be among the top “eight or nine on a championship team. And I’ve been on two championship teams and been to the Finals several other times, so, I’m pretty confident in saying that.”

Last but certainly not least, the Mavericks have 22-year-old Doncic. The Carlisle-Doncic dynamic was closely watched the past three seasons. Doncic at times showed frustrations with Carlisle’s in-game decisions — irritations that he’s yet to show, at least publicly, toward Kidd and the current staff.

Saturday’s game produced a humorous moment when Doncic was called for carrying the ball right in front of Carlisle, after Carlisle pointed out the infraction to referee JB DeRosa. Carlisle later joked that it was the only way he could think of stopping Doncic.

After the game, Mavericks players lined up to give Carlisle hugs and well-wishes. Last in line was Doncic, who smiled and hugged Carlisle. The two stood on the court speaking for several seconds.

“Being with him my first three years, I learned a lot of things,” Doncic said. “He helped me in other ways, too. So, it was a special moment.

“The tribute was really special to him. You could see it. And he deserves it.”

Photos

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle greets Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) after the game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday, January 29, 2022.

1/31Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle greets Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) after the game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday, January 29, 2022.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)