The Dallas Mavericks opened the preseason on Monday night with a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mavs fans couldn’t wait for basketball to return to the American Airlines Center after more than 100 days off, and the Mavs saw numerous new players make their first appearance in Mavs jerseys.

While Klay Thompson’s debut will have to wait until later in the preseason, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie all played on Monday night. Fans were thrilled to see the Mavs take the floor again, and there’s plenty of excitement as the team heads into the regular season.

Dallas ended up losing this game 121-116, but as a Mavs fan there was a lot to be happy about.

Four of Dallas’ five likely starters didn’t play in this game, and yet it remained close until the end.

Dallas’ first move in free agency was to sign Marshall to a three-year deal, and that move looks spot-on after just one preseason game.

Marshall started the game strong as he scored five points in the first three minutes of the game and showcased some of his greatest skills that got Mavs fans excited early on. Marshall’s first shot as a Maverick was a three-pointer from the top of the key, and his next shot was a layup off his own dribble.

Marshall’s ability to handle the ball in space stood out at Fan Jam, and his comfort in that area continued into Monday night. He looks confident in his handle, and his confidence to take shots off the dribble and take care of himself could benefit the Mavs in certain situations.

Marshall also showed his feel for the game and is an unselfish passer in most situations. At times he was caught trying to do too much off the dribble, but his vision and passing are definitely there. Kyrie Irving compared Marshall’s playing style to someone from the East Coast during the Fan Jam, and Marshall’s skills as a guard were evident while watching him on Monday night.

He may not be able to score many more points in the regular season, but he has shown that he can take on that role when necessary. This will help the Mavs pick up the tempo as he grabs long rebounds, and he’s shown he’s more than just a 3-and-D winger quickly.

He finished the game with nine points and six rebounds on 4-for-11 shooting, showing what he can bring moving forward.