News Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Grading the Mavericks: Dallas has to find easier offense

The Mavericks were 1-3 this past week and sit at 14th place in the West. They got beat by San Antonio (125-92) in the home opener and followed that up with a loss to Washington (117-107). They got on the board with a win against Toronto (139-129), but a late comeback fell short, and they lost a dog fight to Oklahoma City (101-94). Anthony Davis led the team in scoring over this stretch with 25 points per game. Daniel Gafford (ankle), Dante Exum (knee), and Kyrie Irving (knee) have yet to make their season debuts. Dereck Lively played three games before injuring his knee and missed Monday’s game against the Thunder. Brandon Williams missed two games due to personal reasons.

Grade: D​

The Mavericks have had an interesting start to the season, to say the least. The first two contests were baffling, both in how porous the defense looked and how much Jason Kidd bought into the idea of a guardless lineup. Getting pounded by the Spurs looks a lot less egregious in hindsight, given how dominant they look with Victor Wembanyama. But losing to a young, weird Wizards team with little to no fight until the fourth quarter was incredibly disheartening.

One not-so-small reason the Mavericks turned things around in some way was Anthony Davis’ shot-making. In the first two games, Davis was just 16-of-41 from the floor. If you break it down, he shot 2-of-8 from three, 14-of-33 from two, and just 11-of-25 in the paint. When your starting big man is shooting 44 percent in the paint, you cannot win games. To his credit, he cleaned it up and posted two excellent shooting performances (11-of-14 and 10-of-16) after two stinkers.

The vision of what this team can be was present against the Thunder. That was the type of rock fight that we expected going into the season. The first three games were defensive atrocities, but it looked a lot more cohesive against Oklahoma City. They held the Thunder to just two points over a seven-and-a-half-minute stretch, fueling a comeback that gave Dallas a shot at the tie with 34 seconds left.

The shot-making is what it is. It is going to be as volatile as can be until they figure out the lead guard role. But there are building blocks in place for the success of this team. They have to play consistent defense. They have to make their inside shots. They have to utilize the offense to create open looks, or scoring will come at a premium. There have been flashes, but they have yet to put together a full game of the basketball they want to play.

Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg​

One thing that stood out in the team’s first four games is that Cooper Flagg is far and away the team’s best offensive engine. He is poised under pressure (for the most part), his jump shot looks fluid, and he has flashed some playmaking that displays his progress as a ball-handler. At some point this season, they are going to have to hand him the keys to the offense. Sure, he is only 18 years old. But when guys have it, it is obvious. And Cooper Flagg has it. Plus, we need more highlights like this:

COOPER FLAGG AND-1 POSTER SLAM

NBA League Pass
https://t.co/cRUBKOfvP4 pic.twitter.com/o1aeTb93i9

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2025

Currently Failing: The opening unit​

Jason Kidd has to switch up the starting lineup. The lack of a point guard kills the ability to get off to a hot start. On Monday night, they went down 11-2 before D’Angelo Russell was subbed in and the Mavericks scored 10 of the next 15 points. That is a nine-point deficit they surrendered because Kidd is stubborn in a seven-point loss. The team needs a steady ball-handler to be successful. Kidd even said this after their loss to Washington. Given that he likes to experiment for the first month or so, the “Flagg at point guard” test will likely continue for some time. But the Mavericks’ best lineups will continue to be the ones where an actual point guard is initiating the offense.

Extra Credit: A new tradition​

If you have ever been to a Dallas Stars game, you’ll know that the National Anthem before the game sounds a bit different. That’s because whenever the song mentions the word “star”, a loud “Stars!” yell can be heard from every fan in attendance, as a tribute to the hometown team. Mavericks fans have picked up on this, and as a clever counter, have started to yell “Flagg!” when the word “flag” is sung in the anthem. It is a cool tradition to help embrace the Mavericks’ next young star:

It’s a tradition at American Airlines Center for fans to yell “Stars” during the Star Spangled Banner to acknowledge the Dallas Stars.

Ahead of tonight’s opener, they added one more wrinkle to that tradition. The yelled “Flag” to acknowledge #Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg. pic.twitter.com/9AJcrQtsqR

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 23, 2025

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ericks-nba-2025-26-anthony-davis-cooper-flagg

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Are Mavericks fans concerned?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This one should get some fun results. It’s posting BEFORE the Pacers game and I have a feeling that game will make most of us feel a lot better about how Dallas has looked and played.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/general/51654/sb-reacts-are-mavericks-fans-concerned

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Pacers

The Dallas Mavericks played host to former head coach Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers, grabbing a 107-105 win in a relatively ugly affair. Unexpected players stepped up in a big way to eek out the win, but the injury list grew when Anthony Davis checked out midway through the first quarter.

Let’s get to the grades!

COOPER FLAGG: A-

15 PTS / 10 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN

Coming into the grading, not many “A” rankings were on my mind. The game was relatively ugly and something of a futility match. That said, a double-double in his fifth ever NBA game, on 6-for-11 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line gets you there in this one. Despite a negative plus/minus, Flagg had a very solid game with only two turnovers and two fouls.

MAX CHRISTIE: C

10 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 33 MIN

Christie put on a generally uneventful show, missing more shots than he made to the tune of 43% shooting, a percentage brought low by his 1-for-4 from beyond the arc.

KLAY THOMPSON: D

5 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN

At the expense of possibly jinxing it and finding a new low in the future, this is about as bad a game as you can get out of Thompson. 2-for-10 from the floor and 1-for-6 from three just can’t happen when your primary objective is to shoot. It’s getting to be like a kicker in the NFL who makes 50% of his field goals. We all know the narrative that Thompson finds his form a month or two into the season, but the Mavs are going to struggle enduring nights like this if that’s the case.

P.J. WASHINGTON: C

9 PTS / 11 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 28 MIN

Washington put up decent numbers in a near double-double, adding a couple of nice blocks on the defensive end, but his shooting was nearly horrendous at every level. 2-for-8 from the floor (0-for-2 on threes) and 5-for-8 on free throws. It was nice he earned trips to the line, but even one more in the made column would have been helpful in such a close game.

ANTHONY DAVIS: N/A

4 PTS / 4 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 7 MIN

Davis was trending toward a monster game, though two turnovers in just under seven minutes is far too many. The unfortunate story here though, is that Davis made it through only four game this season before enduring another injury, this time a mysterious lower leg… something (the in-game details given from the team were murky at best).

D’ANGELO RUSSELL: C

14 PTS / 2 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN

The overall shooting was better than the prior game, but that is largely because it couldn’t have been much worse. Even still, from beyond the arc, Russell was but 1-for-5. That poor shooting along with an almost inexplicable for turnovers drove his grade down, just not quite to the basement.

NAJI MARSHALL: D

3 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN

You’re probably noticing a theme that there just isn’t much to say about a number of these performances. Like Thompson, Marshall barely contributed anything, though he at least brought intangibles on defense. Three points, all by way of free throws, and only two rebounds is well below what Marshall can bring, even on ho-hum night. This was something worse than that.

DWIGHT POWELL: A+

18 PTS / 6 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 29 MIN

Powell might not be in consideration for an A+ again this season, so he’s getting while he can. It’s not just a frivolous gift thought. Powell’s performance was a huge part in the Mavs actually winning, and while the grade may seem intentionally provocative, I can’t imagine anyone would have this performance on their bingo card, especially for a guy who certainly came into the game thinking he’d get spot minutes at best. Instead, he had to take over for Davis, who himself was playing center for the injured Dereck Lively. Kudos to Powerll for 4-for-6 shooting and a ridiculous 10-for-12 on free throws. He racked up too many fouls (four), but brought it in ways none of us would have really banked on.

BRANDON WILLIAMS: A-

20 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 22 MIN

Williams was easily the best player on the Mavs from a stat-stuffing standpoint, and all 20 of his points (to lead the team off the bench) were massive in a two-point game. His low assist total and an astonishingly awful three attempt late in the fourth quarter (it was surprising it didn’t go straight through the backboard) ding the grade a bit, but scoring nearly a point a minute for a dysfunctional offense that lost its best player in the first six minutes is something noteworthy, especially coming off a difficult few days on the personal side of things.

This game was pure ugly. If you missed it, enjoy the grades and our other game coverage, and be happy you were otherwise occupied. The inability or lack of urgency in covering the three point line has been a massive annoyance for years now. Holding a 12-point lead with just minutes to go, and then allowing the Pacers to can three-pointer after three-pointer was frustrating to say the least. Indiana missing the game winning three when no one secured the rebound on a missed free throw was a gift. Still, a win is a win, and the Mavs need as many as they can get, especially against a team that is as inured as Indiana (who has yet to get a W).

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-grades-recapping-the-mavericks-vs-the-pacers

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The start to Cooper Flagg’s rookie season looks eerily similar to his year at Duke. That’s a good thing for the Mavericks

The date is Tuesday, November 12, 2024. College basketball season is just eight days old, and you’re watching perhaps the biggest matchup of the season to date. The Kentucky Wildcats are playing the Duke Blue Devils on ESPN, and it’s a tight game coming down the stretch. In fact, the game is tied at 72 with just 20 seconds left, and Duke is about to do something for the first time this season: Put the ball in true freshman Cooper Flagg’s hands and let him go win a ball game for them. However, this was no storybook ending for Flagg and the Dukies, as Cooper committed turnovers on back-to-back possessions in a five-point loss.

Cooper Flagg turned the ball over two possessions in a row late in regulation.

No. 19 Kentucky takes down No. 6 Duke 77-72 pic.twitter.com/11fiwuov61

— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2024

In that first marquee game against the Wildcats, Flagg had just two assists and three turnovers. In Duke’s first game against Arizona in Tucson, Cooper had three assists and four turnovers. And in their last marquee out of conference game against Kansas, Cooper Flagg had three assists to five turnovers. It all bore out in the eye test, too. While Flagg certainly had his moments in all of those games, for the most part it looked like he was uncomfortable trying to be the engine for a team’s offense in the early stages of the season. Sounds familiar, right?

Once Duke got into conference play, Flagg blossomed in his role. Sure, his first ten games last year at Duke (as a 17-year-old, mind you) were a bit clunky. Those next 20 games? How does 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 53% shooting from the field and 45% from deep sound? Bear in mind that during this stretch, he had thirteen games with at least five assists.

This included the NCAA Tournament, where he played arguably his best game against the Arizona Wildcats. Remember how earlier in the season, Cooper had three assists to four turnovers against Arizona? Well, the second time out he totaled seven assists to just one turnover while having total control of the ball game. It was so good that I wrote a whole breakdown on his performance in the game. That’s the type of player this guy is.

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Cooper Flagg's start feels a lot like it did at Duke where he had some shaky starts against top competition despite some of the numbers he was putting up. In those games, he looked like he was overthinking things, trying to do too much, and was figuring out the speed of the game.…

— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) October 28, 2025

There are already people who are ready to give up on the point-Flagg experience with the Mavericks, mostly due to the struggle that he and the team are having. However, giving up on this now would be the equivalent of breaking a butterfly out of its cocoon before it can naturally get out of it. Sure, the butterfly gets the instant gratification of getting out. But in the long run, the butterfly’s wings are too weak to fly on its own because it didn’t endure the struggle.

Cooper Flagg is going to break out of the cocoon in the NBA. He’s only done it everywhere he’s been, from high school in Maine, to Montverde and Duke. Flagg has proven to be an elite problem solver and one who grows into the best version of himself. Go look at what Cooper Flagg’s shot looked like at Montverde Academy, and then go watch what it’s looked like so far in the NBA. Imagine telling that guy to stay confined to any given box you want to place him in.

Growing pains happen in this league, folks, especially for a guy who should be playing his freshman year at Duke this season. Flagg is a special talent who thrives off the challenges he’s presented. You don’t put elite competitors like him in a box and tell them to stay there. Instead of complaining about how this team shouldn’t put Cooper in these spots, enjoy the fight; There’s beauty in the struggle. And with a player of Cooper Flagg’s caliber, you’ll see why it was all worth it sooner rather than later. After all, he’s only been working for this his whole life.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...e-thats-a-good-thing-for-the-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

After five games, the numbers are making a case for changes

The Dallas Mavericks hold a 2-3 record after five games, good for the 12 Seed in the Western Conference as of Thursday morning. Although it is a small sample size, there is enough behind the numbers to begin identifying trends.

There was no question coming into the season that head coach Jason Kidd would have some creative decisions to make regarding his lineups. He ultimately elected to go without a traditional point guard in the starting rotation, opting instead for a squad of Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively. The immediate question was how the team would fare without a true point guard leading the way, and the results have been somewhat mixed. In the opener, the team looked like a turnover machine of total strangers. Since then, they’ve taken better care of the ball and picked up their pace and passing.

The other glaring question was where the shooting would come from. With the starting lineup set, there was little outside shooting aside from Thompson, with playing time for players off the bench somewhat uncertain. Aside from a few individual hot stretches, the overall shooting has left something to be desired, with last night’s win over the Pacers putting a dark shade on ugly.

With five games in the books, the stats are beginning to reveal two realities that speak to these questions.

The Case for a Point guard​

D’Angelo Russell has been a mixed bag so far. He didn’t break the 20 minute mark until the third game (playing as few as 8:30 in the loss to the Wizards), and is shooting only 32.7%. Despite this, there is a case to be made for having a true point guard on the floor to start. In fact, the Mavs have been their most successful in recent years when they have two capable ball handlers on the court at the same time. Despite some of his personal struggles, having someone who can orchestrate and pass allows other players to get to their spots and play at their best, which can result in a better overall outcome. Case in point is the team plus/minus with and without Russell. These numbers are the difference between maybe being 4-1 or even 5-0 at this point, rather than sitting in 12th place.

Through 5 games, Mavs are a +36 with D'Angelo Russell on the court and a -74 with him off. He's shot the ball poorly (43.5 TS%) but 27 assists compared to 9 turnovers.

— Christian Clark (@christianpclark) October 30, 2025

The Case for Shooting​

The Mavs are stacked at the forward and center positions (notwithstanding health), so much so that they are starting one of them at point guard. The only obvious shooter in the starting rotation is Klay Thompson. The only problem is that he can’t find his groove. Impossibly, Thompson is shooting worse than Russell at 31.3% overall and just nearly 26% from three. Meanwhile, Max Christie is shooting a blazing 51.9% from three, good for fourth on the league leaders list (minimum 25 attempts).

League leaders in three-point percentage (min. 25 attempts):

1) Kyshawn George – 53.8%
2) Kon Knueppel – 53.3%
3) Malik Monk – 52%
4) MAX CHRISTIE – 51.9%
5) Sam Merrill – 51.4% #MFFL pic.twitter.com/voOJOXBOBk

— All Things Mavs (@All_Things_Mavs) October 30, 2025

The Case for Change​

The solution isn’t quite as simple as starting Russell and Christie, as that would raise questions of whom between Washington, Davis and Lively moves to the bench (and it certainly won’t be Davis). Still, if both can’t happen, one of the two should. Russell getting more minutes than his current 21 per game would at least solve some of the problem, even if he wasn’t starting. Christie is a different story though. If Thompson can’t find his form quickly, the Mavs are going to have to give serious consideration to Christie starting in his place. It would give the Mavs more youth and athleticism, and much better comparative shooting at this point. It may even serve Thompson well to come in and microwave score in the second unit.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...mes-the-numbers-are-making-a-case-for-changes

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to note as Dallas travels to Mexico City to face Detroit

The Dallas Mavericks are heading south of the border for an international showcase in Mexico City, where they’ll face a Detroit Pistons team that’s finding its rhythm early this season

After being one of last season’s great success stories, the Pistons have gotten out of the starting blocks a little slow this season

Both teams enter this matchup with records hovering around .500 – Dallas at 2-3, Detroit at 3-2 – but they’re trending in different directions. While the Pistons are coming off a dominant 135-116 victory over Orlando and have won three of their last five, the Mavericks have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde, following up a 101-94 beat down against the Thunder with a narrow win against an injury-riddle Pacers team, that was nearly a loss had Aaron Nesmith hit his open three as time expired.

Dallas does have a two-game win streak in Mexico based on their wins in 2017 and 2019, so maybe the Mexico Boost can get Dallas back to .500.

Shut up, we’re a small ball team now​

Yeah, yeah, Dallas started the season with dreams of running two-big lineups, forwards at every position, and stuffing every player shorter than 6’5” in a locker. Well, forget all that, we’re going back to small ball.

This season started with fans and general NBA observers wondering how in the world Dallas was going to get Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and Anthony Davis enough minutes on the floor.

A pre-season injury to Gafford simplified that issue, but then additional injuries to Lively and then Davis mean that the Mavs have gone from overloaded in the front court to potentially having to lean entirely on Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse.

That said, Dwight “The Eternal Maverick” Powell was Dallas’ second-leading scorer against Indiana with 18, behind only Brandon Williams’ 20. If nothing else, the injuries give leeway to head coach Jason Kidd to devise some of the dumbest, nonsensical lineups you can imagine, and that no opposing team could have possibly planned for.

Welcome to the Brick Show​

So far this season Dallas is managing just 107.8 PPG on 44.5% shooting. That’s good for second to last in the league in terms of offensive rating. Detroit hasn’t done much better, shooting an even worse 44.1% from the field. Still, they’ve managed to score in excess of 110 points in every game except for their 116-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

These are two teams that rank near the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category. Though, even on the defensive side, things are murky. Detroit is holding opponents to 43.5% shooting from the floor — fifth best in the league. Dallas has the league’s eighth-best defensive rating, but their sixth-worst Net rating shows just how bad their offense has been at the same time.

Dallas may have found an offensive spark in Brandon Williams, who stands to receive an increase in playing time considering Dallas’ injuries. His impressive end to last season and team-leading 20 points indicate that he’s capable of being a regular contributor.

Neither team is clicking offensively, so it might come down to who manages to eke out the most possessions. And with how both of these teams have struggled with turnovers so far this year (both averaging nearly 17 a game) there will be ample opportunity for one team or the other to generate looks.

The end of October Klay​

For his career, Klay Thompson has shot 41% from three. Peaking as high as 44% in the 2017-18 season. It’s notable, then, that with a 13-year sample size, Klay is shooting under 35% from three in the month of October across his whole career. It’s the only month where he’s consistently shot the three-ball below 40%. This year, that number is even worse, as he’s shooting just a shade under 26% from deep so far.

The good news is that this will be the final game Dallas plays in October. The better news is that Klay’s shot has always found its way back to him, as he’s shot 40+% in every non-October month in his career. The thought of a 40% three-point shooter would be a godsend for this team offensively, but Dallas would likely settle for even league average instead of de facto turnover when Klay gets his hands on the ball.

How to Watch​

You can broadcast or stream the game on Peacock or Telemundo at 9:00 pm.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...dallas-travels-to-mexico-city-to-face-detroit

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: How to Wager the Mavericks and Pistons in Mexico City

MMBets: How to Wager the Mavericks and Pistons in Mexico City

Can the Mavs snap Detroit’s early-season momentum south of the border?

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The Dallas Mavericks (2–3) face off against the Detroit Pistons (3–2) tonight in Mexico City, tipping off at 9:00 PM CT. While the neutral-court setup adds some intrigue, this game also presents a test of depth: both teams enter with key rotation players either out or listed as game-time decisions.

Dallas is coming off a win but still sits near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Detroit, meanwhile, has won three of its last four and is looking to keep pace in the Central Division. The Pistons are currently 7.5-point favorites, and ESPN’s matchup predictor gives them a 72.8% chance to win.

Will the altitude matter? Will the Mavs’ patchwork guard rotation hold up? And is there any value on this board? Let’s scan the lines and find out.

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Game Fixtures​

November 1, 2025 — Dallas Mavericks (2–3) vs. Detroit Pistons (3–2)
Tipoff: 9:00 PM CT — Arena CDMX, Mexico City
How To Watch: Peacock / Tele

Odds via Draft Kings Sportsbook as of 4:45 AM CST​

Spread: Detroit -7.5
Total: 225.5
Moneyline: DET -305 / DAL +245

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Game Sides​

SGP +122
Leg 1: Detroit Pistons Moneyline
Leg 2: Cade Cunningham 9+ Assists

The Mavericks are missing Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis, leaving their interior defense in the hands of Dwight Powell and P.J. Washington. Against the athleticism and interior strength of Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, that’s a mismatch from tip-off. Cade Cunningham should thrive as a facilitator, racking up assists as Detroit dominates the paint.

Dallas’ only wins so far? A blowout over a shaky Toronto squad and a home squeaker against Indiana’s second unit. Between the altitude, the travel, and the injuries, this is a tough setup for a shorthanded team still finding its rhythm.

Detroit rolls here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ager-the-mavericks-and-pistons-in-mexico-city

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Mavericks vs. Pistons

2-4.

That’s the Mavericks’ record after the latest game, a 110-122 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City. Now that the “Homestand” is done, Dallas sits comfortably close to the bottom of the Western Conference (Thanks New Orleans!) and looks destined to be a lottery-bound team once again.

The Mavericks were without most of their Center rotation for this game (Shocking!), and it showed as the Pistons bullied their way to a 72-26 advantage in the paint. Daniel Gafford’s return to the lineup wasn’t a placebo for the Mavericks’ defensive issues, as the big man was on a minutes restriction and looked like someone who hadn’t had a full training camp to acclimate to game speed.

Jalen Duren & Cade Cunningham imposed their will on the Dallas defense, with Duren scoring a career-high 33 points and Cunningham dishing out 18(!) assists with only one turnover – most of them lobs to Duren in the pick & roll. It seemed like a very familiar sight for Mavericks fans to see someone tear the defense apart at will – we’re probably still adjusting to the fact that we’re now on the receiving end of these.

D’Angelo Russell did his level best to keep this game from turning into a laugher with some wild shot-making in the second and third quarters, but ran out of steam in the fourth when the Pistons dialled in defensively and ran away with the game.

Let’s look at how Dallas graded out in their latest loss against the Detroit Pistons:

Klay Thompson: C-​

11 Pts/3 Reb/1 Ast/1 Stl/0 Blk/0 TOs in 20mins​

Klay got it going early and kept the Mavericks connected to start the game, but was ultimately played off the floor by the Pistons’ younger, more athletic wings. At this point in his career, Klay should be coming off the bench as a sparkplug to take advantage of the opponents’ second units, not as the starting guard for this team. His shot-making might ultimately return, but his defense has tailed off dramatically as he’s aged, and the Mavericks can’t afford that to start every game.

P.J. Washington: C-​

6 Pts/5 Reb/5 Ast/0 Stl/3 Blk/2 TOs in 36mins​

It seems like when PJ has an off night, it’s awful. This was certainly the case in Mexico City, where Washington looked like he couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. He was 3/13 from the floor and 0/6 from the 3-point line. With him rounding into his “Prime”, the one thing that he needs to focus on is adding consistency to his game. The Mavericks can’t afford to have these wild swings in his production. Not with how thin this roster is from a scoring standpoint with Kyrie out.

Alley-oop’u bloklamak mı?

PJ Washington’dan şahane savunma hamlesi pic.twitter.com/5bck5wFoC2

— NBA Türkiye (@NBATurkiye) November 2, 2025

Daniel Gafford: C​

7 Pts/4 Reb/3 Ast/0 Stl/0 Blk/0 TOs in 18mins​

Gafford’s return seemed like a godsend with the news that Anthony Davis would miss the next few games with a Calf Strain, but the Landlord has been out since the first practice of Training Camp, and it showed. The coaching staff played him in three-minute spurts and kept him on a tight minutes restriction, but Gafford looked sluggish and outmatched against the younger Duren.

Cooper Flagg: C​

16 Pts/8 Reb/4 Ast/1 Stl/0 Blk/1 TOs in 34mins​

Most casual fans watching this game would be alarmed at Cooper Flaggs’ performance against Detroit – He was 3/14 from the floor and missed badly on a couple of drives, but for an 18-year-old rookie, the process was good. With DLo assuming the point guard role for most of the game, Flagg could move to his more natural off-ball role with a lot of screens and cuts being designed to get him the ball on the move. The finishing will come in time as he acclimates to NBA-level physicality and pace, but for the time being, we will have to be content with these small steps, particularly with the state of the roster being what it is.

Cormac Christie: B-​

13 Pts/6 Reb/5 Ast/0 Stl/0 Blk/1 TOs in 33mins​

With Davis out, Cormac got the start and made a case that he needs to take Klay’s role in the starting lineup. Christie was confident with the ball in his hands and showed off some playmaking nous, finishing the game with a team-high 5 assists (Tied with PJ). As the Mavericks’ most consistent three-point shooter, the coaching staff has to scheme some more looks for Cormac, particularly from the corners where he’s among the league leaders in the 3pt FG%.

Dwight Powell: C​

5 Pts/6 Reb/1 Ast/0 Stl/0 Blk/2 TOs in 19mins​

Powell couldn’t replicate his heroics from the other night against the Hospital Pacers as he found himself outmuscled and was bullied by the more athletic and physical Jalen Duren & Isaiah Stewart. He was still serviceable for a fourth option Center, though, finishing the game with a team-high plus-minus of 2.

D’Angelo Russell: A-​

31 Pts/7 Reb/3 Ast/0 Stl/0 Blk/4 TOs in 30mins​

The only reason that this game wasn’t a 20–30-point blowout was D’Angelo Russell. Yes, he had some boneheaded turnovers in the fourth quarter that effectively iced the game for the Pistons, but DLo was the Mavericks’ offense. Takeaway his 7/13 from beyond the arc, and all the other Mavericks combined shot 9/32, which amounts to 28%. Yuck.

Feed the hot hand pic.twitter.com/OmLFSWe34h

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 2, 2025

Naji Marshall: D​

7 Pts/2 Reb/0 Ast/1 Stl/0 Blk/2 TOs in 23mins​

Naji has to be better. It’s as simple as that. The Knife was dreadful in this game, finding himself consistently out of position on the defensive end and looked unable to handle Detroit’s physicality on the offensive end. While he opened his three-point account for the season in this game, he was also badly off on his other two attempts, even airballing one of them. He finished the game with a team-low plus-minus of -21.

Brandon Williams: B-​

12 Pts/0 Reb/0 Ast/1 Stl/0 Blk/3 TOs in 17mins​

Williams gets buckets. That’s it. He’s not the player who’s going to run the offense and get others going. He’s someone who’s going to torch opponents’ bench units and look for his own shot. The past two games have illustrated that fact quite well, and Williams has shown that he needs to be running the second unit with DLo starting as the main PG until Kyrie returns.

Caleb Martin: D​

2 Pts/2 Reb/1 Ast/0 Stl/0 Blk/0 TOs in 12mins​

LOL. That’s probably the only reaction to Caleb Martin’s game right now. How he got 12 minutes of playing time is a mystery to most, but Martin looked every bit of an end-of-bench rotation player while he was on the court against Detroit, proving forever more that Nico Harrison is the dumbest GM in the league right now.

𝙄𝙎𝘼𝙄𝘼𝙃 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙒𝘼𝙍𝙏

Caleb Martin’e acayip bir blok yapıyor pic.twitter.com/emReEghIx2

— NBA Türkiye (@NBATurkiye) November 2, 2025

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...rage/51846/player-grades-mavericks-vs-pistons

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Rockets Preview: 4 expectations Mavs fans need to reset as Dallas travels to Houston

Just six games into the 2025-26 season, it’s time for fans of the Dallas Mavericks (2-4) to adjust some of their expectations for this year. That will be especially true when the Mavs travel to Houston for their first away game of the season on Monday against the Rockets (3-2) at the Toyota Center.

The Rockets lead the NBA in points per game (127.8) and offensive rating (126.5) through their first five games, and they’re third in second-chance points per game (20.0). Kevin Durant (27.2 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) is turning back the hands of time with a young roster around him and Alperen Sangun (22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists per game) has been a revelation in both the low post and from the 3-point line early on this year.

Houston has all the tools to turn Monday’s game against a puzzling and beleaguered Mavericks squad into a bloodbath. Depending on who is available for the Mavs, this one could be done and dusted by the middle of the second quarter.

Here are four expectations you may have had six games ago that need to be put on the proverbial shelf as the Mavs meet the Rockets.

This is an elite defensive team​

The Mavericks come into Monday’s game sporting the eighth-best defensive rating (112.0) in the NBA, sure. I’m here to tell you that even that top-third placement six games into the season is chock-full of fool’s gold. The weight of an off night to end all off nights from the Oklahoma City Thunder (in a game the Thunder still found a way to win 101-94) and a narrow win over a team formerly referred to as the Indiana Pacers are boosting an otherwise spotty defensive record to begin the Mavs’ season.

Has Dallas defended the paint as well as we would have expected at this early juncture, or have the Mavericks been gifted some poor shooting nights from their first six opponents? Surely, injuries to Daniel Gafford, who played his first game of the season on Friday, only to get utterly abused by Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Dereck Lively and Anthony Davis play a role here, but this team is full of guys who have rarely been able to string together long healthy stretches. Lively (knee), Davis (calf) and Dante Exum (knee) have once again been ruled out for Monday’s game.

The expectation that a roster full of tall, tall trees would automatically translate to great defense, which was one of the preferred talking points of the coaching staff and front office in the preseason, should have been tempered by that fact. It was staring us all in the face the whole time.

At this point, Dallas ranks 29th in the league in opponent paint points per game (58.0) and surrenders a league-worst 21.8 points per game in transition. Only the Chicago Bulls (58.4) are worse at defending the paint right now. That’s, uhhh, not good, no matter how many minutes Dwight Powell is being forced to play due to injuries.

The Rockets come into Monday’s game in the middle of the NBA pack in both of those corresponding offensive categories. Houston is 13th in fast-break points (15.8) per game and 17th in paint points (49.6) per game. They lead the league in team 3-point shooting, at a scorching 45.4% to start the year.

Cooper Flagg is a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year​

What I’ve left unsaid in the phrasing of this section of my little post here is that Cooper Flagg’s development should be priorities one, two and three for this team. There is an expectation among parts of the Mavs fan base that says this team is in win-now mode — that the two-timeline tightrope is something the Nico-Harrison-led front office has the ability to tread. Strike this from your minds, my blue-and-green-clad brethren. Life is pain in 2025-26.

Which brings me to my greater point here. Flagg is not giving Rookie-of-the-Year in the first six games of his professional career. And that’s okay right now. Flagg is averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists through his first six games.

Those glaring deficiencies you’re seeing? I’d argue those are more the product of what’s around him than anything wrong with him, or that we were all wrong about going into this year. His weaknesses — as an 18-year-old playing on a court with men 10 years’ experience and 30 pounds worth of advantage against him — are on full display as he tries to get acclimated to a position he’s never played before with little to no help around him on the perimeter.

In the absence of a floor general or dependable shooters along the perimeter, Flagg has been called upon to run the show, and, make no mistake, putting the ball in Flagg’s hands in his rookie season is a good thing. Allowing him to make mistakes and learn from them is a good thing. It’s just not always going to be pretty. The ugly bits are going to end up being the best bits for Flagg’s progression and development as a player.

To add some perspective, Philadelphia 76ers’ rookie VJ Edgecombe has set the NBA on fire to start his rookie season, averaging 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game through five games. The Memphis Grizzlies’ Cedric Coward has also impressed to the tune of 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game to start his rookie campaign.

Size is a nightly advantage​

First of all, injuries are already busy negating the size advantage the Mavs expected to wield this season. Gafford missed the first five games of the season with a bum ankle after stepping on Davis’ foot on the first day of Mavericks training camp in Vancouver, BC, on Sept. 30. Lively and Street Clothes himself went down soon afterward. Let’s disabuse ourselves of the notion that this roster was built with the purpose of “size” behind it. It was built by fools with a horde of chump fans parroting the party line of excitement behind them.

Second of all, if the bigs you’re building around can’t shoot, they’re basically rendered useless in the position-less, modern NBA, anyway. It’s no longer out of bounds to build a starting roster featuring two bigs — that seems to have come back into fashion a little bit in the NBA. But at least one of them has to be able to shoot it. And there’s a difference between thinking you can shoot it and actually being able to shoot it. Looking at you, Anthony Davis.

The Rockets feature a big man in their starting five who appears to have vastly improved his shooting touch this year. Alperen Sengun has made nine of his first 17 3-point attempts on the year through Houston’s first five games. There is a decent chance he will soon revert toward the mean, but if he’s able to even remotely sustain that kind of shooting, the Mavs are cooked on Monday and the Association is on notice.

Jason Kidd will make any singular, solitary move that makes even a lick of sense​

Why is D’Angelo Russell not starting or shouldering more of the ball-handling and playmaking responsibility on this team? What was he brought in to do exactly, if not give the Mavericks some semblance of stability in the backcourt?

Why did Mavs head coach Jason Kidd seem to want to depend on Jaden Hardy over Russell in crunch time against the defending NBA champion Thunder last week? Why does Kidd, a former point guard himself (and a great one!), seem to refuse to acknowledge that his former position is the most important one on the floor?

Why was it such a foregone conclusion to sign Kidd to his most recent contract extension? Why are you the way that you are, Mavericks?

It’s time to stop holding our collective breath waiting for Kidd & Co. to make the right decisions at the right moments. We’ve been through this for five years now. Making it make sense is off the table.

How to watch​

What’s firmly on the table is the distinct possibility that the Rockets will blow the Mavs out of Lake Houston on Monday, when the two teams square off at 7 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and regionally on MavsTV affiliate stations. It will also be streamed on MavsTV.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...w-anthony-davis-kevin-durant-cooper-flagg-nba

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 6 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 122-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons

The Dallas Mavericks (2-4) figured out yet another way to lose a basketball game on Saturday, this time to the Detroit Pistons (4-2), 122-110, at Mexico City’s Arena CDMX.

Down two big men, Dallas tried to keep up with the Pistons by firing at will from 3-point range, and it worked — until it didn’t. They tried to lean on the hot shooting of D’Angelo Russell, who came off the bench for a team-high 31 points, and it worked — until he turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter while the Pistons made 12-of-23 from the field down the stretch.

The Mavs were outscored in the paint by a jaw-dropping 72-26 margin down Mexico way. They turned the ball over 15 times in the second half. PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg combined to shoot 6-for-27 from the field in the loss, and those three were freebies, because I have six stats that loomed even larger than those in the Mavs’ latest loss.

Without further ado, here they are:

5: First-quarter buckets at the rim for Jalen Duren​

Jalen Duren’s five buckets in the first quarter put the Mavericks’ injury woes into clear focus to start the game. He connected with Arlington’s own Cade Cunningham to finish three lobs at the rim and scored in close twice more to go 5-for-5 for a game-high 10 points in the first. Fun fact — the Cunningham-to-Duren connection accounted for 60 lob finishes last season.

You’d like to be able to say it was too easy, but with the Mavs’ big, deep frontcourt wilting with injuries to Anthony Davis (calf) and Dereck Lively (knee), and with Daniel Gafford playing his first game of the year on a minutes restriction, the lane was always going to be open for business for the Pistons on this particular Saturday night.

Duren came into the game having scored 20 or more in two of the Pistons’ last three games. He scored 21 points and grabbed 13 boards in Wednesday’s 135-116 win over the Orlando Magic and had 24 and 18 in Sunday’s 119-113 win over the Boston Celtics. His two fouls in the first quarter on Saturday did a better job of slowing him down than anyone in a Mavericks uniform did early on.

The Mavericks stayed afloat despite getting outscored 20-10 in the paint in the first quarter, and Naji Marshall hit his first 3-pointer of the year with 26 seconds left in the frame to give Dallas a 30-27 lead at the end of one.

21-2: Pistons’ second-quarter run​

Dallas worked that slim lead at the end of the first all the way up to nine points, up 42-33 after D’Angelo Russell’s runner in the lane with 7:47 left in the second. They did it, in part, by defending the 3-point line in the first half, as the Pistons started the game 1-of-9 from 3-point range.

But, oh, how the turntables. From that point, the Pistons embarked on a 21-2 run to retake control of the game, albeit only briefly. They scored the first few from the free throw line, until Cunningham found Javonte Green cutting through the lane for his sixth assist of the first half for an easy bucket that brought Detroit to within 42-40 with 6:39 left in the second. Duren continued his perfect night from the field to that point by scoring on a 3-point play inside and another putback jam that gave the Pistons a 47-44 lead with 4:34 left before halftime.

Ausar Thompson nailed a corner 3-pointer, just Detroit’s second on the night from distance, with 3:23 left in the second to increase the Pistons’ lead to 54-44.

17-3: Dallas’ run in response​

Then things see-sawed back in Dallas’ favor for the final three minutes of the first half. The Mavs responded with a 17-3 run of their own to retake the lead going into the break. Flagg and Brandon Williams combined to fuel the Mavericks with 14 of the team’s final 17 points of the first half.

Williams hit two 3-pointers during the run, and Flagg broke out of his cold spell from the field with a big 3-ball of his own that brought the Mavericks to within one, down 57-56 with 1:12 left in the half. Flagg led Dallas with 10 points and five rebounds in the first half but shot just 2-of-8 to get there.

The Dallas defense limited Cunningham to just eight points in the first half. Duren led the Pistons with 17 points at the break and was on the bench for most of the Mavericks’ 17-3 run.

10: Mavericks’ first-half 3-pointers​

Dallas came into Saturday’s game averaging just over nine 3-point makes on just over 28 attempts per game in games played in the United States. All it took was a trip south of the border for the spice level to go up from behind the 3-point line, apparently.

Dallas made 10-of-27 (37%) from 3-point territory in the first half against the Pistons. Flagg, Russell, Kormac Karl “Max’ Christie and Klay Thompson combined to shoot 8-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half. The rest of the team made just 2-of-9, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers from 3-point range with this team. We’ll certainly take it.

13: Third-quarter points from D’Angelo Russell​

Russell caught fire in the third quarter, and the Mavs needed every one of the 13 points he scored in the frame. He went 4-for-5 from the floor and hit two of his three attempts from distance coming out of halftime, while the lead changed hands six times in the third.

Russell connected with Gafford on an alley-oop with 2:10 left in the third to give the Mavs back an 86-85 lead, then Flagg found Russell open on the wing a minute later for his fourth 3-ball of the game to extend that lead to 90-85 with a little over a minute left in the frame.

He would hit two more early in the fourth quarter to help keep the Mavs’ heads above water against the Piston’s oncoming late charge.

18/1: Cade Cunningham’s assist-to-turnover ratio​

But here’s the game in a nutshell. While Detroit features a cerebral point guard capable of manufacturing an absurd 18-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and winning plays down the stretch, the Mavs’ best hope at the moment making ball-handling decisions is a guy who passes the ball to one of two Detroit Pistons who overload the dribble-hand-off instead of regrouping or finding a cutter. A guy who drags an ill-fated wraparound pass long and out of bounds to a cutting Daniel Gafford two minutes later. A guy who turns it over three times in the fourth quarter to sink the Mavs’ chances even as he sinks heat-check 3-pointer after heat-check 3-pointer.

I’m talking, of course, about the vastly different fourth-quarter profiles of Cunningham and Russell. Cunningham showed why he is a winning piece as the game wound down against the Mavericks, and Russell, even while canning his fifth, sixth and seventh 3-balls of the night in the fourth, showed why he’s never materialized into anything close to it.

The Mavs shot 4-of-16 in the fourth quarter to kill their chances at maintaining the lead they clung to with nine minutes left to play. Duren finished with a career-high 33 points on a ridiculous 13-of-16 shooting night to go along with 11 boards. Cunningham nailed a late 3-pointer to finish with 21 points to go with those 18 assists. He now holds an incredible 28-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last two games.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...mavericks-122-110-loss-to-the-detroit-pistons

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 takeaways from Dallas’ 110-102 defeat to the Houston Rockets

P..J. Washington had a season-high 29 points and 12 rebounds Monday, but it wasn’t enough as the Houston Rockets continued their winning streak — now at four games — with a 110-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Houston improved to 4-2 on the season while Dallas dropped to 2-5.

The Mavericks played Monday’s game without their two starting big men for the second consecutive game as Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis both remained out Monday with check-ins for their respective injuries scheduled for Tuesday when the Mavericks return to Dallas. The team struggled to contain the Rockets’ sizeable starting 5, as Alperen Sengun scored 26 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the win while Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson combined for 48 points.

Cooper Flagg showed improvement in Monday’s contest, scoring 12 points on an efficient 50% from the field and 40% from three, but got less looks in the second half. Flagg shot just four times, including a heave at the end of a game already decided, after getting six shots in the first half. As Dallas mounted their comeback — at one point tying the game late in the fourth quarter — the team ran its offense through D’Angelo Russell, Washington, and Daniel Gafford, who had 14 points in 25 minutes in his second game back from an injury that kept him out of the team’s first five games.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Shooters shoot as Mavericks adapt to new offense​

For the second straight game, Dallas rose its season average of three-pointers attempted. Entering Saturday’s game, the Mavericks were attempting just over 28 threes a game, but they’ve shot a combined 81 in the two road games against the Pistons and Rockets.

Their efficiency — 35.6% on 45 attempts Saturday and 25% on 36 attempts Monday — show the shift is a work in progress and may largely be due to the absence of Davis and Lively II, but if Dallas is to make a run at a playoff spot when they get fully healthy, they’re going to need to shoot the ball and these last couple games show a willingness to adapt to that reality.

P.J. Washington, man on a mission​

Washington has been one of the lone steady parts of the Mavericks season. His stat-stuffing performance Monday broke a two-game skid scoring under 10 points and looked much more like the Washington who opened the season averaging over 17 points a night on over 50% from the field and over 40% from three.

His defense mixed with his improved ability to drive to the basket and score, while also being able to look for his teammates — his 2.8 assists per game this season would be a career-high — have been invaluable to a Mavericks team struggling to find its identity on both ends of the floor.

D’Angelo Russell is finding his role in Dallas​

Just a few games ago, Russell was shut out of the Mavericks offense nearly completely. He played just 15 minutes in the season opener and nine minutes — including none in the second half — in Dallas’ 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards.

A week later, he’s the team leader on the offensive end.

Since that Washington loss, Russell has averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 assists a night and has been a key player down the stretch in all five games for the Mavericks. Dallas is 2-3 since Russell’s increase in minutes and has been within striking distance in all three losses.

Russell has been a key player keeping the Mavericks afloat as they struggle through the early season injury bug and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him enter the starting lineup soon, especially with an easier stretch of the schedule (next 3: vs 0-6 NOP, @ 3-5 MEM, @ 1-6 WAS) approaching.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-dallas-110-102-defeat-to-the-houston-rockets

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: What’s the problem in Dallas?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

These two questions are somewhat related. Jason Kidd caused the first by odd speculation about Kyrie Irvings return. The second question is more big picture, but Kyrie playing would solve a lot of the offensive issues. We’ll post the results later in the week!

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/general/51888/sb-reacts-whats-the-problem-in-dallas

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to consider before the Dallas Mavericks take on the New Orleans Pelicans

The Dallas Mavericks (2-5) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (0-6) Wednesday night in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks are trying to claw their way to a .500 record, while the Pelicans just want a win, any win, anyway they can get it.

Dallas is coming off a loss to the Houston Rockets Monday night. New Orleans will be on the second night of a back-to-back. The schedule favors the Mavericks, but so far this season, nothing has come easy for them. They’ll need to take advantage of the weaker schedule while they can, because in the Western Conference, there are few easy games.

As of this writing, the Mavericks haven’t released their injury report for the game. On Friday, they announced Anthony Davis would miss the next two games and be re-evaluated, so his status is up in the air for Wednesday’s tilt. Dereck Lively II has missed the last four games and Jason Kidd said he would be re-evaluated once the team returned to Dallas. Dante Exum is still injured but listed as a game time decision. The medical staff is having to do a lot of evaluating is the message here.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, were dealt a tough hand with star Zion Williamson being sidelined with a hamstring injury. He’ll be re-evaluated in 7-10 days.

The absence of so many talented players will make it an odd matchup, but the games move on. Here are three things to consider before the game:

Zion Williamson’s absence makes life easier on the Mavericks​

Williamson leads the NBA in free throw attempts this season with 11.4 per game. For a decimated Mavericks front court, that makes things much easier. Williamson is the motor of the Pelicans offense, and without him, things will get much tougher for New Orleans. The Pelicans don’t do much well, so taking away one of their offensive strengths pretty much neutralizes their scoring. Dallas just needs to make sure they don’t allow easy penetration to the less talented players they’ll see Wednesday night.

A 3-point barrage is unlikely​

We’re still in small sample size theater this early in the season, but the Mavericks are second in the league in 3-pointers allowed (something you can control) and not so coincidentally first in the league in 3-pointers allowed at 9.9 (you really can’t control if the 3-pointers go in, but limiting the attempts helps keep the made number down). The Pelicans, meanwhile, are 18th in the league in 3-pointers attempted, and 24th in 3-pointers made with 11.7 per game.

It’s unlikely we’ll get a weird game where the Pelicans just launch a billion 3-pointers and somehow make enough to win. The Mavericks aren’t allowing teams to get off shots from deep like that, and the Pelicans can’t make them even if they did. So don’t worry about a fluky win by New Orleans Wednesday night.

Limit Jordan Poole​

New Orleans’ only real chance of escaping with a win is by Poole having a big game. With Williamson out, the Pelicans will likely turn to Poole to create offense. If the Mavericks guards can contain him, or better yet, tempt him into trying to shoot the Pelicans to a win on his own, they will likely cruise to a win. At 18.3 points per game, Poole is the best scorer New Orleans has that’s healthy.

How to watch​

The game will tip at 7:30 p.m. CST on Mavs TV, KFAA 29, and NBA League Pass.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...as-mavericks-take-on-the-new-orleans-pelicans

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Mavericks host the one-win Pelicans

The Dallas Mavericks (2–5) return to the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night to host the New Orleans Pelicans (1–6), who just picked up their first win of the season in a tight finish against Charlotte. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM CT. Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

Both teams are battling injuries, but the Pelicans in particular are dealing with a severely limited rotation. Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and Yves Missi are all out. Dallas, meanwhile, will be without Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, and Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving remains sidelined.

We often talk about a scheduled loss when a team is in a really bad situation. This might be the opposite — a scheduled win for Dallas. The Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back, traveling after an emotional first win of the season. The Mavericks are home, rested, and hungry to avoid slipping to 2–6.

This is the first of four matchups between these Southwest Division opponents.

---

Game Fixtures​

November 5, 2025 — New Orleans Pelicans (1–6) at Dallas Mavericks (2–5)
Tipoff: 7:30 PM CT — American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
How To Watch: KFAA-TV

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 12:30 AM CST​

Spread: Dallas -7.5 (-108) / New Orleans +7.5 (-112)
Total: 226.5 (O -112 / U -108)
Moneyline: DAL -298 / NO +240

---

Game Sides​

Dallas -7.5
Under 226.5

The Mavericks are in a strong bounce-back spot against a Pelicans team that is not only shorthanded, but arriving on the second night of a back-to-back. Expect Dallas to control the tempo, limit transition chances, and pull away in the second half. With both teams missing key offensive weapons, the total projects a bit high — the under makes sense.

---

Player Props​

D’Angelo Russell over 6 assists (+112)
Russell should have ample opportunity to initiate the offense, especially with the Pelicans potentially worn down from playing the night before. He’s logged 29 and 30 minutes in his last two games — a clear uptick from earlier in the season — and the Mavericks have looked more fluid when he’s on the floor. If Dallas plays downhill and gets out in transition, D Lo’s assist chances spike.

Trey Murphy III over 3 made threes (-116)
Murphy remains one of the most reliable volume three-point shooters in New Orleans’ rotation. He’s hit 5-of-10 from deep over his last two games, and with so many offensive pieces out for the Pelicans, he should have the green light again. Dallas ranks 5th in the league in 3P% allowed (33.2%), but Murphy’s role and volume give him a real shot to hit four or more in a game where New Orleans may be forced to chase from behind.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla.../51948/mmbets-mavericks-host-winless-pelicans

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things after Dallas fizzles against New Orleans, 101-99

The Dallas Mavericks were beaten by the New Orleans Pelicans, 101-99 Wednesday night in Dallas.

Cooper Flagg led Dallas in scoring with 20 points, but his 8-for-19 shooting night, including a missed jumper at the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, makes that something more akin to a pyrrhic scoring night.

For New Orleans, it was scoring by committee, with six players scoring in double digits, led by Saddiq Bey with 22.

Not only did the Pelicans get their first win of the season last night against the Charlotte Hornets, but now, after besting Dallas, they’re on their first win streak! A sad reality for a Dallas team that, if certain individuals in the front office were to be believed, is built to win a championship RIGHT NOW.

The game started on a bad foot, with Dallas going 0-for-7 to open the game and immediately falling into a 9-0 hole. They mustered only 19 points in a first quarter that didn’t have much in the way of positives.

Dallas would battle back in the second, led in large part by PJ Washington Jr’s 10 points in the quarter, and those 10 points were bigger than the sum of its parts. When Dallas couldn’t get anything going offensively, PJ putting his head down and earning three different and-1 opportunities gave the impression that he might just have what it took to put the Mavericks on his back and drag them kicking and screaming to competitiveness.

Things stayed close, all the way to clutch time in the fourth, but then, when typically the team that just played 24 hours ago would start to fade, the Pelicans put their foot on the gas, erased the small Mav lead Dallas carried into the quarter, and did just enough to pull out the victory.

The offense is BAD bad​

This isn’t breaking news, but the Mavericks’ struggle against the Pelicans, minus Zion, feels like something of a rock bottom. This is a New Orleans team that ranks above only the winless Nets in defensive rating, playing on the road on the second night of a back-to-back. And Dallas couldn’t muster more than 99 points.

Jason Kidd must know he’s got to try something, as demonstrated by moving Klay Thompson to the bench in favor of starting D’Angelo Russell. While having an actual guard on the floor was a welcome change, it didn’t do much to give Dallas any kind of offense connectivity. On top of that, the turnover issue remains, with the Mavs coughing up the ball 15 times tonight, including seven in the game-deciding fourth quarter, which ultimately spelled doom for Dallas and dropped them to 2-6 on the season.

It’s bad enough that it feels disingenuous to say that this is something that can be fixed by the return of Anthony Davis or Dereck Lively. Even adding Kyrie Irving isn’t going to be a fix-all for what ails Dallas. There’s something fundamentally broken about this team’s inability to put the ball in the bucket. And I truly hate that I’m being forced to agree with Kevin Durant, but to be a good team, you need to be able to put the ball in the bucket. No amount of “defense wins championships” mentality is going to fix only putting up 99 points a night.

PJ Washington the professional​

PJ Washington’s 15 points were important, especially his load-bearing effort in the second quarter, and his 11 rebounds came up big as well, easing the load on Daniel Gafford, Dallas’ lone healthy rotation big. (Gafford, who, by the way, contributed 15 points of his own.)

It wasn’t just the scoring, though. Washington also led Dallas in minutes, with 38. With Dallas missing three starters and minutes that need to be covered by competent, winning players for Dallas to have a chance night in and night out, PJ stepping up and playing in a way that gave the Mavericks a shot is all you can ask. Were this Mavs team the kind of team that had a true go-to number one option, Washington’s second quarter effort would’ve been just enough to buoy the team before handing the baton off to someone capable of being their engine.

Dallas is in a tough spot because not only do they not have a player like that on the roster, they also haven’t shown that they can play with enough of a cohesive offensive mentality to share the burden of putting points on the board.

Cooper Flaggs’ dunk contest application​

Cooper Flagg’s rookie season has been interesting if for no other reason than you never quite know what you’re going to see from him on a game-to-game basis. On the one hand, a little consistency would be nice, but let’s not get overly nitpicky about the first 10 games of his rookie season. He’s had good shooting games, bad shooting games, blocks, steals, but his assault on the rim tonight just had that dunk contest power and flair to it, especially on the receiving end of a Naji Marshall alley-oop late in the first quarter.

Watching Flagg exhibit a new aspect of his game and how he’s adapting to NBA life has been one of the few bright spots for Dallas so far this season. With how things have gone so far, by the time the All-Star Break hits, a dunk contest title might be the only title Dallas has any hope of bringing home this season.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ter-dallas-fizzles-against-new-orleans-101-99

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

By The Numbers: 3 Key Stats from the Mavericks’ 101-99 Loss to the Pelicans

It might be time to take your hand off the “panic” button and click “rebuild” instead.

Coming into Wednesday, the 2-5 Mavericks desperately needed a game against the New Orleans Pelicans to get back on track. New Orleans was just 1-6 coming into the night with their sole victory being against the Charlotte Hornets the night before. Notable players on the injury report for the Pelicans were Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Yves Missi, and Jordan Poole. The Mavericks were without Anthony Davis for his third consecutive game and Dereck Lively II for his fifth consecutive game. Still, this seemed like a matchup Dallas should win handily, despite their early season struggles. On paper, the size and talent disparity heavily favored Dallas. With the next two games against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, the matchup with the Pelicans was an ideal starting point to get back to .500.

Instead, the hole was dug deeper. These three stats from Wednesday night’s disappointing loss to the Pelicans show it might be time to reset expectations.

107 points per 100 possessions​

A major paint point of Dallas’s early season struggles has been the offense. Despite being 30th in the NBA in offensive efficiency coming into Wednesday night at 110 points per 100 possessions, the Mavericks offense managed to dip them even further by the end of the night to 107 points per 100 possessions. Searching for answers, Jason Kidd finally made the move to start a true point guard in D’Angelo Russell, but this just wasn’t his night. Russell had 9 points and 3 assists on 3/10 shooting from the floor in 21 minutes. The sole bright spot for the Mavs was Cooper Flagg with 20 points on 8/19 from the floor. He also added 9 rebounds and 2 assists. This was a more aggressive version of Flagg and Dallas absolutely needs that. Other notable scorers included Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington with 15 points each, Max Christie with 12, and Klay Thompson with 11.

The Mavericks struggled to score from tipoff. It took the Mavericks 218 seconds (3 minutes and 38 seconds) to score their first bucket of the game on a Max Christie triple to make it 9-3 Pelicans. This stretch of minutes to start the game set the tone for the entire night. The Mavs played from behind most of the game and never got anything going offensively to put pressure on the Pelicans.

41.6% from the field​

The Mavericks can’t shoot. Period. Dallas shot 41.6% from the floor against a Pelicans team that is 29th in the league in defensive efficiency, giving up over 120 points per game. The Mavericks couldn’t even crack 100. This marks the seventh game in eight total that the Mavs failed to crack 50% shooting from the floor. The only exception was the 139-129 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Dallas shot 31.3% from three during the game on 10/32 from the floor which is right on par for their season average of 31.6% The evidence is mounting that the Mavericks just don’t have enough offensive firepower in a league where scoring and three-point shooting win games. Even the eventual addition of a healthy Kyrie Irving probably wouldn’t give this team enough as the lack of shooting comes at every position.

The Mavs also continue to struggle inside the paint. Dallas hit just two out of their first 12 shots inside the paint against a depleted Pelicans frontcourt without Yves Missi and Zion Williamson. New Orleans outscored Dallas in the paint 52-50, which has become a concerning trend. The Mavs have been outscored in the paint five out of eight games this season, with a total disparity of -94, 462 to 368. If you can’t make threes and can’t score inside, the result is being 30th in the NBA in offensive efficiency. Dallas was also outrebounded 56-44, marking the sixth time in eight games they’ve came up short on the boards this season.

7 turnovers​

Turnovers are a problem for the Mavs. But if you look at the box score and see Dallas had a respectable 15 turnovers vs New Orleans’ 16, you might say this area wasn’t a big factor in the loss. Of the 15 turnovers, 7 came in the fourth quarter. Of those 7 turnovers, 6 were live ball turnovers, leading to easy Pelicans points.

Despite winning the total turnover battle by 16-15, The Mavs couldn’t take advantage. The Pelicans scored 18 points off Maverick turnovers vs only 7 for the Mavs off the Pelicans’ 16. Most nights, the opponents won’t have as many turnovers as the Mavs, but when they do, Dallas isn’t taking advantage.

Live ball turnovers have haunted the Mavs frequently in this early season. The lack of having guard depth has already become quite clear. From losing a dribble, to missing a handoff, to not reading cuts, Dallas’s inability to take care of the basketball is a major reason why they sit at 2-6, tied for last in the Western Conference.

---

We’re quickly approaching a fork in the road. Even with a healthy Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, this team still lacks consistent scoring. If the Mavs don’t have enough to win now, do they start from scratch and build around Cooper Flagg? If this is the team on the floor until Irving returns, Dallas will be too deep in a hole to dig out of and make a playoff (or play-in) push. So, would this mean scrapping another year with aging stars and hoping for the best? Or reset the table and start over with Flagg? Even this early in the season, we’re coming to a critical point in the decision-making process for the Mavs front office. Make moves and try to stay competitive? Or build around your new star? The next handful of games will likely give us a clearer picture.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...rom-the-mavericks-101-99-loss-to-the-pelicans

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to think about before the Dallas Mavericks play the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Cup

The Dallas Mavericks (2-6) head to Memphis Friday night for their first NBA Cup game against the Grizzlies (3-6). It is a tale of two dysfunctional teams: the Grizzlies, who attempt to make peace with star Ja Morant, and the Mavericks, who attempt to make, well, a shot.

One losing streak will have to end (three games for Dallas, four for Memphis), although a win will not solve the deep-rooted issues for either team. The Mavericks face an existential crisis in the aftermath of a sobering loss to the Pelicans. The Grizzlies are faced with deciding between their star player and their coaching staff, just months after Morant got the previous regime booted.

On the court, these are two of the worst teams in basketball. They are both bottom five in offensive rating, bottom six in net rating, and play at top five paces in the league. So not only are these teams playing horrible basketball, but they’re playing a lot of it. One saving grace on either side is their respective first-round pick in this year’s draft. Cooper Flagg on Dallas and Cedric Coward on Memphis have given otherwise bleak situations a little bit of hope. With uncertainty around the rest of either player’s roster moving forward, it will be fun to watch the rookies go head-to-head for what could be the first of many matchups to come. Here are three other things to note before the game tips off:

No Luka, no… problem?​

Dallas notoriously dominated the matchup with Memphis while Luka Doncic was a Maverick. They were 11-4 in games that Doncic played against the Grizzlies, and that includes a 7-1 record between 2021 and 2024. Unfortunately, without Doncic in the lineup, since 2018-19, the pendulum swings the other way, as Memphis has taken 10 of the 11 matchups. Recent history is not in Dallas’ favor. At the time of writing, there is no injury report submitted for either team, but the Mavericks will likely be trotting out the same guys that played on Wednesday. Memphis is far healthier than Dallas is, which would make predicting a Mavericks win pretty bold. Luckily for them, fortune favors the bold.

A true road test​

It is hard to believe that Dallas has not played as the visiting team outside of Texas yet. They opened the year with five games in Dallas, then traveled to Mexico City where they were the honorary home team at a neutral site. The other two games (in Houston and Dallas) were both in Texas, meaning the Mavericks have not had to travel more than 250 miles to an opposing arena. They say that defense travels, but with slightly elevated stakes, it will be interesting to see the juice the team has after being able to sleep in their own bed most of the last two-plus weeks. For Flagg, this will easily be the most difficult environment he has had to play in during his young career. I am excited to see how he steps up to the plate.

The NBA Cup brings colorful courts aplenty​

Yes, the in-season tournament no one asked for is back and better than ever, with offensive courts as far as the eye can see. Some are disgusting to look at, some blur the three-point lines, and some test the boundaries of how many shades of grey you can put on one piece of wood. However, the Mavericks got lucky with their first game in group play, as Memphis’ court is not half bad:

The @memgrizz new court for the Emirates NBA Cup pic.twitter.com/l5Z9pLij3O

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2025

How to watch​

The game will tip at 7:00 p.m. CST on Mavs TV, KFAA 29, and NBA League Pass.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...es-nba-preview-2025-26-cooper-flagg-ja-morant

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: The stoppable Mavericks meet the movable Grizzlies

Dallas is heading to Memphis for a divisional matchup with the Grizzlies to open their NBA Cup group play. Even less than 10 games into the new year, this feels like a “loser leaves town” matchup. The Mavericks and Grizzlies are both reeling from the recent drama surrounding each team, compounded by a lot of losing. Truly, this game could be a turning point in either season, for better or for worse. One bright spot to pay attention to (and bet on) will be the rookie matchup between lottery picks Cooper Flagg and Cedric Coward. They should have a fun matchup, while everyone else tries to resemble the sport of basketball in some way.

Game intangibles​

Dallas Mavericks (2-6) at Memphis Grizzlies (3-6)

Tipoff: 7:00p CT at the FedExForum in Memphis, TN

How to watch: The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29, or streaming on Mavs TV for anyone in the Mavericks media market. For those outside of the viewing area, NBA League Pass will have you covered.

Odds via the Fanduel Sportsbook as of Noon CST​

Spread: Dallas +4.5 (-110)

Over/Under: 232.5 (-110/-110)

Moneyline: Dallas +154

Player props​

Cedric Coward to score 15+ points (+150)​

Cooper Flagg to score 20+ points (+134)​

Both rookies have excellent matchups in this game. Coward is shooting over 50 percent from the floor this year and has played nearly 30 minutes a game in their last three. He can shoot (he made six threes earlier this year), and has the size to take advantage of Dallas’ soft defense. Flagg is a great bounce-back candidate after his horrid shooting night on Wednesday, including missing the game-tying shot. He has followed up every game he has shot under 50 percent (except the first one) with one where he shoots 50 percent or better. He is due for a career night, and tonight is the perfect opportunity.

Game sides​

Under 232.5 (-110)​

Mavericks under 114.5 points (-114)​

Despite the likelihood of big games from both teams’ first-year guys, this will still be an ugly, low-scoring affair. The Mavericks have scored 115 points a single time. In fact, they have only scored 110 twice. If they burn me tonight, so be it. But I am fading this team until they prove that their offense can do anything. And the offensive struggles go beyond Dallas. 233 is too many points for a game where the teams combine to score 221 a game. Take the under and tell your mother she’s getting a new car.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ng-preview-and-predictions-fanduel-sportsbook

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping the 118-104 road spanking in Memphis

This is my fourth year on staff here at MMB and my first attempt at writing the Player Grades post. You may be wondering why I picked this game – and that would make two of us. What a tough watch. We had fun basketball around these parts, not all that long ago, right?

One quick thought before we dive in. The Mavericks – now 2-7 on the season – are on their way to Washington (1-8) to play the second night of a back-to-back. If the Wizards win, and they very well might they will be 2-0 against the Mavericks and otherwise winless. All I can say is stay tuned for my betting post in a few hours for more thoughts on that riveting matchup.

Strap in, these grades are not pretty.

Starters​

Daniel Gafford | Grade Incomplete​

12 min | 0 pts | 1 r​

Unless word comes out that Gafford was dealing with an injury (ankle flaring back up?) that caused an early exit, one has to wonder if this was simply a usage management decision ahead of playing again tomorrow night. Not much to report here unless something happened to impact his availability going forward.

PJ Washington Grade C-​

25 min | 14 pts | 6 r | 1 a | 1 stl | 1 bl​

This was a meh game from Washington. It is clear that he has primary option responsibility, giving the options available as the green light is quite pronounced. The Mavs needed a scorching night from him, and 6-15 is middling. He is having a solid season amid the chaos, but Dallas needed a supernova game and did not get it.

Cooper Flagg | Grade C+​

27 min| 12 pts | 6 r | 2 a | 1 stl | 1 blk​

Keeping in mind that Flagg is about to play his tenth game tomorrow night, I am inclined to go easier on him than the same effort and production from a veteran would garner. Even still, every starter -including Flagg was at least -20 on/off – tough stuff. What’s worse is that his teammates rarely seem to actively look to get him engaged offensively, and most of his looks are more of the Thanos (fine, I’ll do it myself) variety.

D’Angelo Russell | Grade D​

16 min | 9 pts | 3 r | 5 a​

Nice efficiency with the shot (4-5 from the field) in limited play is overshadowed by being on the floor for yet another slow start and then again in the second quarter when the game got away from Dallas on the defensive end early on.

Max Christie | Grade A-​

28 min | 18 pts | 1 r | 1 a​

Christie looked like he cared and played like it. He may be the Mavericks’ best player right now in terms of consistent effort and results relative to role, which itself is an indictment.

Reserves​

Naji Marshall | Grade D​

28 min | 18 pts | 1 r | 1 a​

If you look at this box score, you’ll see the Mavs only got to the line 16 times as a unit, Marshall was 3 of 4 from the stripe. He is one of the few Mavericks that can provoke a defense to foul with some semblance of lane driving. The 1-7 from 3 is brutal and it is pretty clear that – rare nights withstanding – Marshall’s 38.7 percent during his free agency year with the Pelicans was an outlier. Last season’s 27.5 percent and so far this year 2-13 (15.4%) is an analytical war crime. Opposing defenses leave him wide open beyond the arc for a reason.

Brandon Williams | Grade D-​

22 min | 11 pts | 1 r | 3 a​

Williams has moments of “beeline to the basket” which are fun, but those aside, I am increasingly convinced this is a player who is not a long-term piece once the rebuild begins in earnest.

Klay Thompson | Grade F​

17 min | 0 pts | 1 r | 3a​

This is not what he signed up for, and it hurts to watch. Love the guy yet it is time to find him – and a few others – a new home. Feels strange to give a Hall of Famer in a terrible situation an F, but knowing Thompson, he would likely nod in agreement.

Others​

Moussa Cisse (nice transition dunk off a defensive stop) and Ryan Nembhard come out of this one with some nice box scores, but otherwise this was a case of the end of the bench closing a gap with pure effort once the game was already decided.

Onto tomorrow night. Mavs vs Wizards, folks.

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Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ecapping-the-118-104-road-spanking-in-memphis

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Wizards Preview and Injury Update: Jason Kidd and the Chamber of Defense

The Dallas Mavericks (2-7) are still on the road, playing the Washington Wizards (1-8). Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, with DC losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night and the Mavericks getting blown out by the Memphis Grizzlies. You’ll remember the Mavericks already losing to the Wizards once back in October.

Here’s the main things you need to know before the game kicks off.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Washington Wizards
• WHAT: Win, for the love of basketball
• WHERE: Capital One Arena, Washington DC
• WHEN: 6:00 p.m. CST
• HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass, and also Playback with Kirk

As of this writing (about noon) Dallas has yet to submit an injury report. Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum are out, I think that’s safe to say. I’d also suspect Dereck Lively is out. Last night, Anthony Davis had progressed to doubtful so I BET we see a questionable designation then he doesn’t play. Daniel Gafford didn’t play late last night, so I wonder if he’;s on the report. For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly is out and Khris Middleton is out as well. Kyshawn George is questionable with an illness.

There’s plenty of stuff to read on the homepage from last night’s game and this one. We’ve had a great deal of content lately so go check it out to see if you missed anything.

As you can tell below, you can join me in a room on Playback (embed below) during the game (though I may not be able to start it until halftime). Also consider joining Josh and I on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start around 10:15 pm. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

new Playback.Embed("playback-embed", { room: "mavsmoneyball", style: { height: "100%", width: "100%" }, });

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...art-time-tv-stream-injury-report-how-to-watch