Maxi Kleber’s Hot Shooting Provides Spark in Dallas Mavericks’ Game 5 Blowout: ‘We Can’t Relax’
Maxi Kleber's performance in the first four games of the 2024 NBA Playoffs had been underwhelming from an offensive perspective. Despite playing 23 minutes on average, he had only managed to score 3.8 points per game on 45 percent shooting overall. As a result, Kleber's contribution to the Dallas Mavericks' playoff success had been minimal.
However, head coach Jason Kidd believes that Kleber is crucial to the team's success and has continued to play him, despite criticism from others. During Game 5, which was a must-win for the Mavericks, fans saw why Kidd has so much faith in the German stretch forward in a resounding 123-93 blowout win on the road.
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When Maxi Kleber entered the game with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter, Dallas had a narrow 19-17 lead. Initially, Kleber's play was unremarkable as he collected a couple of rebounds and missed on a long 3-pointer. As the first quarter concluded, it seemed like it would be another mediocre offensive performance. However, it is well known that in this league, things can change very quickly, and that was the case for Maxi Kleber.
At the 9:42 mark of the second quarter, Kleber returned to the game, and shortly after, he made a significant impact. With 9:33 left in the half, Kleber made a corner 3-pointer, which put the Mavs ahead by five points. After that, Kleber never looked back. He made three more perimeter jumpers before the conclusion of the half, scoring a total of 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting from beyond the arc. Thanks in large part to Kleber's impressive performance, the Mavs went into halftime with a double-digit lead of 56-46.
Late in the third quarter, Kleber would strike again from downtown, putting the Mavs up 76-52 and effectively breaking the backs of the Clippers. Kleber would ultimately finish with 15 points on 5-7 shooting, in a performance that resembled one from the 2022 NBA playoff series against the Utah Jazz.
Kleber acknowledged that his teammates' attention from defenders helped him get his opportunities.
"Luka and Kai draw a lot of attention, so you're going to get those open shots, you just have to be ready to shoot them at all times,” Kleber said. “They're not always going to fall, but you have to make sure to take the right shots and we did that today."
Kleber's amazing performance from 3-point range was a prime example of how role players can make significant contributions on any given night and change a series. He was the unexpected hero of Game 5 and has now positioned himself as one of the Mavericks' top perimeter threats moving forward now that he’s regained his confidence.
If Kleber can maintain his proficiency from the perimeter, his presence will make Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving even more effective on the offensive end. Although his outbreak performance was a pleasant surprise for one game, the Mavericks hope Maxi Kleber can continue his hot streak aims to finish off this first-round series on Friday at American Airlines Center.
“We can’t relax,” Kleber told Bally Sports Southwest in his postgame interview. “We’ve got to come out with the right mindset. We got to play aggressive on offense and on defense, and we’ve got to stick to our schemes.”
