Martin’s season debut gives Dallas ten useful minutes—and ten points

What changed

Caleb Martin’s season began with a short shift that still changed Dallas’s options. After missing four games with a right thumb sprain, he scored 10 points in 14 minutes, shot 4-of-6 from the field and made two of four threes in the 120-96 win.

Martin was plus-eight and added two rebounds and a steal. The production is useful, but the bigger development is availability: Dallas can now evaluate him inside a crowded wing rotation instead of guessing from last season’s difficult, injury-interrupted stretch.

One efficient appearance does not settle his role or his shooting. It does give Dusty May another veteran connector for lineups that already received double-digit scoring from four reserves Wednesday.