That trademark Dallas Mavericks defense allowed 90 points in the three quarters the regulars played against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center on Saturday, and the Hornets went on to take the 120-116 win in the Mavs’ second of four preseason games. The result doesn’t matter, but there will still be takeaways.

The Mavericks starters got to stretch their legs for three quarters instead of two in their second preseason game, and the results were largely mixed. There were encouraging signs, and then there was Anthony Davis, who is still working his way back into game shape, apparently. Davis walked or trotted back on defense several times and at one point in the third quarter, jogged over to defend a Brandon Miller corner 3-pointer and somehow still fouled him for a four-point

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