It was just the ninth game of the season, early November, against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks had just embarrassed themselves at home against the New York Knicks the night before, and desperately needed to repair and regroup.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was coming off the bench, yet to have an opportunity at a starting spot alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, even as Rick Carlisle had been playing an early season round of rotational musical chairs.
No one had played well the night before at the American Airlines Center, Hardaway included.