After roughly 3,000 losses in a row, the Mavericks [now have a two-game win streak](https://pod-maverick-a-dallas-mavericks-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/after-dark-anthony-davis-is-back-mavericks-beat-bad-nets) and are looking to take the western conference by storm with AD officially back in the fold and only 10 games remaining in the regular season. Truthfully, at 34-37 on the year, and still enduring severe injury hardships, inclusive of Kyrie, AD, Lively II, Gafford, Exum, et all, the Mavs are jockeying for the final spot in the WC play-in tournament. Should they advance into the first round of that, they’ll be fortunate to advance further. The team has had a lot of bad luck this year, as you well know. But they did their job today, and in the spirit of the late Bob Uecker’s character Harry Doyle in the Major League movie from 1989, let’s take a glass is half full approach (ironic, though, it may be) to passing out player grades.
**PJ Washington: B+**
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### **31 Minutes/ 16 Points/ 7-12 FG/ 2 Rebounds/ 5 Assists**
PJ gets the highest rank here, not only because he’s my favorite Mav (next to DLive), but also because he’s pretty much our best player at this point. He was 7-of-12 from the floor today after [scoring his 5,000th career point against the Pistons on Friday](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/3/22/24391395/pj-washington-reaches-5000-career-points-in-historic-fashion-in-mavericks-win-over-the-pistons). He’s had a few minor injuries over the course of the season, but his high minutes are sustainable as he is at peak conditioning level. Which is good, because we’d be screwed without him (and we’re already kind of screwed).
**Kai Jones: B**
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### **28 Minutes/ 13 Points/ 5-5 FG/ 9 Rebounds**
The big man brought down a team high nine boards today, helping them to secure and hold onto the lead in this one. He was 5-of-5, as well. Can’t turn your nose up at perfection. A decent showing from Jones, which is good news. And good news regarding any Mavs big man is a huge deal. Which leads us to…
**AD: C+**
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### **27 Minutes/ 12 Points/ 6-9 FG/ 6 Rebounds/ 3 Assists**
Alright, wtf are the Mavs thinking bringing him back so soon? He was clearly laboring and moving at about 8% of his peak ability. I’m surprised that they’d let him risk making it worse when they don’t really have anything riding on his return outside of a possible play-in spot. But he also definitely didn’t look like he was trying to overdo it out there. Good to see him, but good god…
**Spencer Dinwiddie: B**
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### **29 Minutes/ 16 Points/ 7-10 FG/ 12 Assists**
Spencer can be great when he’s not asked to lead a backcourt. He’s a lot of fun to watch and can be really clutch in big moments, but it’s frustrating to see the team being forced to rely on him for major results as the season comes to a close.
**Klay Thompson: C-**
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### **25 Minutes/ 8 Points/ 3-9 FG/ 3 Rebounds/ 2 Assists**
Poor Klay could not have expected the reality this team currently faces when he agreed to move from the beautiful west coast to the hellhole of a climate we call north Texas. But here we are.
**Naji Marshall: B**
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### **27 Minutes/ 22 Points/ 9-15 FG/ 4 Rebounds/ 2 Assists**
Naji continues to be one of the few success stories that fall into the domain of activities that have occurred within the Mav’s franchise this season. He hustles, he’s physical, he’s got his teammate’s backs. It’s great to have him on the team, especially from a defensive standpoint. He and PJ make an excellent pair of defensive playmakers. Here’s hoping that when everyone is healthy next season, they can help the Mavs win a championship through the strength of their defensive play, just like the Mavs brass envisioned.