Mavericks: 3 role players who need to step up to help Luka Doncic

Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. has been one of the Mavericks’ best players in the series so far. He was a big part of the reason Dallas took a 2-0 lead in the first place. However, Game 3 highlighted what happens when the forward isn’t on top of the world.

In 40 minutes of action, Hardaway took 14 shots and made only four of them. At least those four were three-pointers, but he only managed 12 points, all things considered.

Hardaway Jr. made up for other issues in the lineup (more on that later) by hitting better than 60 percent of his shots in the first two games. He had 21 and 28 points in those outings. Realistically, he wasn’t going to be able to maintain that level for the whole series. Still, Dallas needs his dips to be less harmful.

It’s no coincidence the Mavericks lost only once Hardaway’s hot hand turned cold, inside the arc at least.

One thing is for sure, another game with Hardaway shooting 28.6 percent from the floor won’t end well for Dallas. If Doncic can’t play, that applies extra.