Hard to believe it was just eight years ago when Spencer Dinwiddie was donning the number 25 jersey for the Colorado Buffaloes. Fast forward to now and The Mayor is an NBA veteran, helping the Dallas Mavericks chase the ultimate goal of an NBA Championship.
Mavs superstar Luka Doncic got hurt in the final game of the season and has been sidelined ever since. That ultimately meant that Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie would get more touches by running the offense and would have to make the most out of what they have got.
They certainly have so far.
Dinwiddie scored 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting in game one, going to the charity stripe 16 times while adding four rebounds and eight assists in a losing effort.
Game 2 and 3 were a little different.
He hasn’t exactly shot the best in the two wins but he’s definitely made his impact known. Dinwiddie was a (+6) in game two’s victory, tallying 17 points with four rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Spencer even had a highlight reel play in the victory, soaring over Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert for a vicious jam.
SPENCER DINWIDDIE POSTER ON GOBERT
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 22, 2022
pic.twitter.com/pno1zSVYVS
You know that had to feel good.
It was only two months ago when he collected his first NBA triple-double in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Dinwiddie had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on a (+4) rating.
The former CU hoops standout finished game three with a (+8) rating, adding 20 points on 6-of-21 shooting while hauling down five rebounds to go with six assists and three steals.
From the sounds of it, Dallas sounds like they’ll be expecting Luka back for game four as he was a full-participant in practice, including their five-on-five scrimmage as he has been nursing a calf injury.
I don’t expect it to take away from Dinwiddie’s game too much but he will still be a vital option on offense alongside Luka and Brunson.
The 6’6″ guard is averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists over the first three playoff games.
The Mavericks return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 3-1 lead, looking to steal another game on the road in Utah.