Dennis Smith Jr. shined in his return to the Dallas Mavericks starting lineup after a short hiatus, dropping 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a win over the L.A. Clippers. A scene in which his teammates hugged him in the fourth quarter drew attention, but the second-year guard noted it wasn't much to worry about.

“The bad teammate card has never been a thing for me,” said Dennis Smith, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. “I love everybody in the locker room, and I feel like it’s a mutual feeling. But they were hugging me because I fell on my ass.”

Head coach Rick Carlisle, who reportedly called Smith to apologize to him, said Tuesday's effort was one of his best in recent memory.

“He’s a wonderful kid, and the things that he can do on the court, we can’t replace,” said Carlisle. “I’m ecstatic that he’s back, and I absolutely love the way he played tonight.”

Smith missed six games through the middle of January, resulting in a 2-4 record and pushing the Mavs into 13th place in a tough Western Conference.

The hope is that by plugging him back in the lineup. Dallas will have a better chance at cracking a playoff spot, only four games behind the eight-seeded Clippers.

The situation between Smith and the Mavs is still murky, at best — but both parties will need to navigate it soundly before the offseason hits and there is more time and patience to seek out options for a potential trade.