Surviving the absence of the NBA’s reigning scoring champion is often easier said than done, but history confirms two things to be almost required: lockdown defense, and timely contributions from less heralded talents. Happy to contribute both against the Western Conference’s top regular-season dog on January 17, 2025, Olivier Maxence-Prosper adjusts his hard hat, hounding Jalen Williams’ dribble before a teammate forces a fastbreak-opening turnover. Trailing just behind the open-floor fray, “O-Max” reaps the rewards of his hustle, stretching out to deliver a poster jam over the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-time All-Star in the first quarter. Plays of that caliber, alongside a few timely runs, helped the Dallas Mavericks prevail in the always-competitive showdown between banged-up contenders. Noteworthy during his nine-minute workload, Maxence-Prosper collected seven points (on three-of-four shooting), two rebounds, and a 3-pointer on January 17, 2025. · Jan 18, 2025