Emotions were unexplainably mixed, as the Dallas Mavericks — in a span of three quarters — experienced both the tantalizing highs of having a new All-NBA big man, and the subsequent lows of losing him to injury thereafter. As they navigated through February 8, 2025’s rocky terrain, the Western Conference’s reigning champions got to see firsthand, the many benefits associated with Max Christie’s always-steady game. Spot-on in his accuracy throughout Week One in Dallas’ threads, Christie again accepts the challenge, using a prescient off-ball cut to give his All-Star teammate a much-needed drive-and-kick outlet. Calm in his fire with Dillon Brooks’ contest obstructing his view, Christie swishes in a 3-pointer, pushing the Mavericks’ late third quarter lead to double-figures. Surpassing the 15-point barrier in each of his first seven games in Dallas, Christie’s contributions here added up to 23 points on standout efficiency overall (5-of-10), from deep (four-of-five), and from the free throw line (9-of-10), alongside two assists and a block. · Feb 8, 2025