Heading into Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks were coming off a win against the Miami Heat. Dallas snapped their three-game losing streak and was looking for another win against Detroit.

Dallas took care of business on the road as they defeated the Pistons 142-124. Luka Doncic put on a show as he always does, finishing with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, setting the NBA record for most consecutive 30-point triple-doubles with six.

Doncic always seems to make history, and the Mavs can go as far as he’ll take them.

Dallas Mavericks’ intense scuffle with Pistons ignites deep team chemistry

Although this game will be remembered for Doncic making history, a play from the fourth quarter could be a defining moment of the Mavs’ season if they turn things completely around.

Daniel Gafford caught a pass down low and was fouled by Jaden Ivey when he was trying to rise up and score. After the foul by Ivey, Jalen Duren shoved Gafford into the goal, and P.J. Washington immediately ran over to check on his teammate.

Hard foul by Jalen Duren on Daniel Gafford as he shoved him into the goal.

P.J. Washington immediately ran over to stand up for him and shoved Duren.

These are the technicals that you will take any day of the week if you’re Jason Kidd. Love Washington standing up for Gafford. pic.twitter.com/yzwONECaKk

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) March 10, 2024

Washington lightly shoved Duren to get him out of the way so he could help Gafford up, and Duren didn’t take lightly to that. Duren then shoved Washington and Washington shoved him back, and the two had to be separated by their teammates and the referees.

Duren ended up getting two technical fouls for this play alone, and Washington received one tech.

This is a technical foul that you have to love if you’re Jason Kidd, as Washington immediately ran over to stand up for Gafford after the dirty play by Duren. This play shows the type of chemistry that Gafford and Washington already have, and Gafford is clearly happy that Washington stood up for him.

“I love that,” Gafford said when asked about when Washington stood up for him. “Whenever the big man goes down, somebody gotta step up.”

Daniel Gafford on P.J. Washington standing up for him after that hard foul by Jalen Duren:

“I love that. Whenever the big man goes down, somebody gotta stand up.” pic.twitter.com/LnhzNe2QEg

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) March 10, 2024

This play may seem small, but it shows that these players care about each other and aren’t going to let stuff like that Duren hard foul fly. Both players have barely been in Dallas for a month, and they have already built a strong bond.

For all the latest on P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Luka Doncic, and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned