The second Zoran stepped on the court, he knew this one was different.
Smooth jazz wasn't playing over the speakers. It was drowned out by the sound of shoes squeaking and bodies colliding. The Pelicans didn't play cute. They didn't ease into matchups. They came downhill — fast and hard.
Kidd had warned him. "Herb Jones is going to be on you. He's long, physical, smart. Stay composed."
Zoran just nodded and took the floor.
[SYSTEM ACTIVE – SITUATIONAL READ MODE ENABLED]✓ Boost: Visual Processing +2%✓ Game Speed Perception: +5%✓ Fatigue Delay: 4 minutes✓ Message: "Don't rush. Let them speed themselves up."
Pelicans 12 – Mavericks 9.
Zoran entered early in the first after Max picked up his second foul trying to check Ingram. The moment he stepped onto the hardwood, Herb was in his jersey.
No handshake. No welcome. Just a hard bump on the hip as he lined up at the wing.
Zoran didn't respond. He caught the ball off a horn set, used Davis' screen, and attacked middle. Herb cut him off, but that was fine. Zoran slowed down, shifted gears, and bounced a pass to Gortman on the drift for an open three.
Bang.
12–12.
A few possessions later, Zoran caught it in transition with Naji Marshall trying to angle him baseline. He stopped short at the nail, hit a quick jab, then pulled up.
Splash.
Mavs up 17–14.
Next play, Pelicans answered. Ingram hit a tough contested fade over Caleb.
17–16.
Back the other way, Zoran curled off a wide pindown, caught it clean, and dropped a one-touch pass to Powell cutting under. Foul. Two free throws.
Mavs 19–16.
Herb didn't let up.
He bodied Zoran through every screen, reaching in without drawing whistles. But Zoran wasn't forcing anything. He picked his spots. Moved without the ball. Executed.
End of the first, the Mavs were up 26–22. Zoran had 4 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound.
Quiet. Clean. Effective.
Early second quarter, things got ugly.
Pelicans bench unit led by Alvarado cranked up the pressure. They went on a 10–2 run, flipping the score to 32–28. Kidd called timeout, barking about composure.
Zoran stayed in.
This time he ran the show.
First play back: he called a Spain pick-and-roll with Davis and Dinwiddie. Alvarado bit on Davis slipping early, and Zoran fed it inside for a layup.
32–30.
Next possession: fast break off a missed corner three. Zoran led the break, faked the pass to Max, Euro stepped around Jordan Hawkins, and finished off glass.
Tie game.
By halftime, it was 48–44 Mavericks.
Zoran's line: 8 points (4–6 FG), 3 assists, 2 rebounds. No turnovers.
Kidd slapped his shoulder walking back to the tunnel. "Good minutes. You're earning trust."
Zoran just nodded.
He didn't need a speech. He needed minutes.
Third quarter was where the Pelicans started forcing things. Brandon Ingram caught fire briefly, scoring 8 straight, and the Mavs trailed 58–55.
That's when Zoran checked back in.
This time, Herb switched onto Klay, and Zoran got Dyson Daniels instead.
Mismatch.
He wasted no time — caught it on the wing, pump fake, one-dribble sidestep, clean three.
58–58.
A few possessions later, he drew help on a baseline drive and rifled a pass to Max Christie for a corner three.
63–60, Mavs.
The fourth quarter was trench warfare.
Score seesawed. Davis played bully ball inside, Ingram hit contested shots, and Alvarado picked Dinwiddie at half court once.
But every time the Mavs needed a smart decision, Zoran delivered.
Hit a floater over Valanciunas on a short roll.
Got a late steal by cutting off an inbound.
Assisted on a key Davis bucket with 1:12 left.
Final score: Mavericks 94 – Pelicans 91
Zoran's final stat line:12 points (6–8 FG), 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal.+7 in 18 minutes.
Nothing loud. But when the game tightened, he was unshakable.
In the locker room, Davis looked over as he unwrapped his tape.
"You don't talk much," he said.
Zoran shrugged. "I don't need to."
Davis smirked. "Good. Just keep hoopin'."
[SYSTEM UPDATE – INTERNAL RECOGNITION BOOSTED]✓ Teammate Trust: Increasing✓ Coach Evaluation: Positive✓ Efficiency Rating: 82%✓ Impact Score: Above Rotation Average✓ Suggestion: "Keep stacking. Stay locked."