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Dallas Mavericks rookie guard Ryan Nembhard, currently on a two-way contract, was elevated to the starting lineup for the first time in his NBA career on Friday. Marc Stein was the first to report the news on Twitter.

The former Gonzaga floor general made the most of the opportunity, delivering an efficient and composed performance with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with four assists in just 23 minutes.

Speaking after the game, Nembhard explained that the defensive attention given to Anthony Davis created openings for him to attack.

“They weren’t really guarding me,” Nembhard said, according to Grant Afseth.

“They was trying to play off me and stand those gaps for AD and double him and make it tough on him. So a lot of open shots presented themselves and I’m just trying to be aggressive, get my teammates involved, and take advantage of the opportunity.”

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