Out of sync and mostly uninvolved during the opener of the Spurs' playoff series against Dallas, Matt Bonner's timing for Game 2 didn't look much better.
When he arrived at the AT&T Center on Monday night, his pregame routine was already blown. Thanks to the late tipoff time, Bonner's unusually quick evening commute gave him far more time to kill at the arena than he was accustomed to. The culprit?
"No traffic," Bonner said.
Turns out, Bonner was much more prepared for open jumpers than he was for open roads. When he finally got an obstructed view of the basket - perhaps his first such look of the series with the ball in his hands - he at long last showed why Gregg Popovich hasn't ejected him from the starting lineup yet.
Bonner's two second-quarter 3-pointers helped the Spurs build a huge early lead, and he finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in a 104-85 victory over the Mavericks.
In Game 1 on Saturday, Bonner struggled on both ends of the floor, racking up four quick fouls against Dirk Nowitzki, failing to get a single 3-point attempt and missing the only shot he took.
On Monday, the early part of the game looked like more of the same. But when the Mavericks backed into a zone defense midway through the second quarter, Bonner - who ranked eighth in the NBA with his .440 3-point percentage in the regular season - was ready.
With just under eight minutes left in the first half, Roger Mason Jr. drove under the basket, had his path blocked by two defenders and then fired a pass out to Bonner on the right wing. Bonner hesitated for a split-second, then cocked his wrist behind his ear and swished his first 3-pointer of the series.
"It felt good just to get an open look," Bonner said. "It didn't really happen last game."
Three possessions later, Tony Parker set up for a jumper near the free-throw line, but when it appeared Mavs forward Brandon Bass might be able to block the shot, he dumped the ball back to Bonner on the perimeter. Bonner then threw in another 3-pointer - his second of three in the game - to put the Spurs ahead by 18.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who said he didn't consider pulling Bonner from the starting lineup despite his lack of production in Game 1, suggested it was no coincidence that the Spurs had a breakout offensive game on the same night Bonner started hitting outside shots.
"He spreads the court pretty well for us," Popovich said. "That's the important part of what he does."
Bonner said the Spurs spent much of Sunday studying game film and trying to find spots where he might have opportunities to get good shots. He said that studying paid off in Game 2, but as Popovich pointed out, Bonner doesn't need much help to get his chances.
"Matt's a hustle-type guy," Popovich said. "He'll do his best to get open."
