ChompTalk.com

After a 120-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the debate of whether the Dallas Mavericks were better with or without star point guard Luka Doncic came to relevance.

Despite what you think, one thing is for sure, the stat line of a former Florida Gator is benefitting from his absence.

Dorian Finney-Smith (forward, Dallas Mavericks) scored 15 points in over 35 minutes of play against the Bucks. That’s his highest point total since Nov. 18 against the San Antonio Spurs (22), and it’s his second highest total of the season. He also had eight rebounds, three of which were on the offensive end.

Finney-Smith is one Dallas’ primary rebounders on offense. He averages 1.8 offensive boards per game, good for a tie with Kristaps Porzingis for the team lead.

Al Horford (center/power forward, Philadelphia 76ers) is also having a prolific season on the offensive glass. He is averaging 1.7, behind only Joel Embiid on his team.

Horford is scoring 13.4 points per game, a decent mark that is a little below average for him (14.1 for his career). The dip may be due to volume of ball handlers on the 76ers (from Embiid and Ben Simmons to Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson), but it’s also due to a lack of efficiency from Horford.

The five-time All Star is eighth on his squad in field-goal percentage (47.1) and 10th in three-point shooting percentage (34.3). Both marks are below his career averages of 52.4 and 36.6, respectively. He’s also only going to the charity stripe 1.5 times per contest and hitting at 67.6 percent, both below his career figures of 2.3 attempts and 75.3 percent.

Bradley Beal (guard, Washington Wizards) continues to score at a high level, as he is fifth in the NBA in scoring (27.6 points per game).

Not only does he lead Washington in scoring but assists as well (7.0). Beal’s best recent performance came in a 133-119 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday, when he dropped a 35-point, 10-assist performance.

Beal came back with a 22-point, seven-assist and seven-rebound night against Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, but the Wizards suffered a 110-109 loss. Beal went 1 for 9 from three, as he continues to be inconsistent from deep.

Beal is hitting at an uncharacteristic 33.3 percent rate (38.1 percent for his career) and taking 8.0 threes per game. That’s a career low in three-point percentage and a career-high in attempts.

Beal’s teammate, Chris Chiozza (guard, Washington Wizards), has seen an increase in playing time recently, although he didn’t play against the Pistons or Bulls. However, Chiozza had a career-high eight points on Saturday in a 17-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He also recorded four rebounds, two assists and two steals in his 18 minutes of action.

Mark Stine is a contributing writer for Chomp Talk. Follow him on Twitter @mstinejr.