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[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping the Mavericks’ 129-119 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers

The Dallas Mavericks (5-15) and the Los Angeles Lakers (14-4) treated fans to an unexpected barn burner on Friday at Crypto.com Arena, but Dallas didn’t have the firepower to keep up the pace down the stretch as the Lakers finally pulled away for the 129-119 win. Luka Dončić torched the Mavericks for 35 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, and Austin Reaves did him one better to finish with a game-high 38 points and eight boards.

Eight Mavericks scored in double figures as Dallas did everything they could to hang with one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but the Lakers outscored the Mavs 18-9 in the last 7:40 of the game to hand Dallas its fourth straight loss. The good news is that the Mavs played about as good a game as they have all season. The bad news is that the Mavs played about as good a game as they have all season, and still lost.

Let’s get to the individual marks.

Max Christie: C+​

13 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST — 27 MIN​

Cooper Flagg found Max Christie open in the right corner after a baseline drive-and-kick for a 3-pointer to tie the game at 5-5 early on. He gave his defender a convincing pump fake and side-stepped for another 3-ball, this time from the left corner, two minutes later. Christie’s mid-range jumper near the elbow gave Dallas a 50-49 lead as part of a 12-2 run late in the second quarter.

He hit his third 3-pointer of the first half from the left corner with 30 seconds left before the break to give Dallas its largest lead of the half, up 62-58, to match P.J. Washington as the team’s leading scorer to that point, with 11 points. The Mavs took a 62-60 lead into the break. He would score just two more points in the second half.

Cooper Flagg: A-​

13 PTS / 7 REB / 11 AST / 3 STL – 36 MIN​

Flagg got discarded by Deandre Ayton on his way to the rack early in the first quarter as the Lakers had little trouble getting to the rim to start the game. He went to the bench for a rest without attempting a shot, which is continued game plan malpractice on Mavs’ head coach Jason Kidd more than anything wrong with Flagg’s game. He eventually knocked down his first jumper of the game to pull the Mavs to within 23-21 late in the first.

He rose up and hit his first 3-ball of the game from way downtown near the top of the key with 2:13 left in the first half to give the Mavs a 57-55 lead. He shot the ball just five times in the first half, but made the most of his opportunities. Flagg charged into Dončić midway through the third after an offensive board, which immediately led to yet another bucket from Dončić on the other end to extend the LA lead to 84-77.

After getting just two shots in the third quarter, Flagg sealed James off on a baseline cut and scored inside to bring the Mavs to within 101-98 early in the fourth. While he wasn’t getting consistent shooting opportunities, he found open teammates all night and made the plays the game presented him with.

Anthony Davis: B+​

12 PTS / 5 REB / 5 AST / 3 BLK – 28 MIN​

Anthony Davis was a near non-factor in the first quarter of his first game back after missing the team’s last 14 with a calf injury, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds in his first six minutes on the floor as the Mavericks trailed 28-22 after one. He made a nice drive through the teeth of the LA defense with 7:30 left in the second quarter for a slam to bring Dallas back to within one, down 39-38, and force a Lakers timeout.

He moved pretty well for his first game back and didn’t re-injure anything, so we’ll take that. He got lost on double teams and switches against Luka Dončić a couple times and bricked his first 3-point attempt of the game early in the third quarter, but nothing too egregiously negative for the most part.

Davis scored in the lane over James with 7:50 left to put the Mavs up 110-109. He blocked James’ shot on the other end in perhaps his biggest sequence of the night.

Ryan Nembhard: A​

17 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL – 23 MIN​

Ryan Nembhard nailed the first shot attempt of his first start of the season, a pull-up jumper from just outside the free-throw line, to give the Mavericks an early 7-6 lead less than three minutes into the game. Then he found Davis trailing for a clever alley-oop assist with 6:45 left in the opener. He picked up his second foul on the other end, though, curtailing his nice start.

Nembhard scored the first five points out of halftime, including a 3-pointer over the defense of one LeBron James on the Mavs’ first possession of the third quarter. He hit a beautiful high-arcing running with 7:10 left in the third to bring the Mavs back to within 76-75 after a flurry from Dončić had put the Lakers back in front. He nailed another 3-pointer early in the fourth as the shot clock wound down to keep the Mavs within four, down just 105-101 at the time, then nailed his third of the game two minutes later to make it a 109-108 game and force the Lakers into a timeout.

D’Angelo Russell: INC​

0 PTS / 0 AST / 0 BLK – 0 MIN​

D’Angelo Russell was relegated to the Jason Kidd Phantom Zone for the entire first half, after playing just 10 minutes in Monday’s 106-102 loss to the Miami Heat. Then he played exactly zero minutes in the second half. Is Russell becoming this season’s version of Christian Wood?

P.J. Washington: A-​

22 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN​

Washington scored on a wide open dunk off a broken play to give the Mavericks their first bucket of the game, but turned the ball over on a bad interior pass intended for Davis with 7:30 left in the first. He got rid of Austin Reaves along the perimeter midway through the second quarter and pulled up for his first 3-pointer of the game to bring the Mavs back to within two points, down just 43-41. He scored on a fast break with a nice scooping finish two minutes later to pull Dallas back in front, 48-47, and cap a 10-0 run.

James took Washington to school as part of a 14-4 Laker run that forced Dallas into a timeout early in the third quarter, down 76-73 with 7:42 left in the frame. Washington tipped home his own miss with just over three minutes to play as the Mavs tried to make one last push for the lead, but it ultimately came up short.

Daniel Gafford: C​

5 PTS / 4 REB /1 STL – 17 MIN​

Daniel Gafford put Flagg in a bad spot late in the shot clock with two minutes left in the first quarter, and Flagg promptly dribbled it off his leg in the corner for the Mavs’ fifth turnover of the first quarter. Gafford was utterly ineffective all night on defense as part of the constant double teams the Mavericks threw Dončić‘s way.

Klay Thompson: C​

10 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST – 20 MIN​

Klay Thompson missed his first 3-point attempt of the game, a good look in rhythm that would have given the Mavs back the early lead, from near the top of the key late in the first quarter. He knocked one down on a nice driving find from Nembhard early in the second quarter to bring the Mavs to within six, down 31-25. His third 3-ball came late in the third when the Mavs really needed a shot in the arm. He gave his defender a pump fake along the right wing before canning the longball to bring the Mavs back to within three, down just 93-90. Thompson was a non-factor in the fourth quarter.

Naji Marshall: A-​

16 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL – 25 MIN​

Naj Marshall’s first impactful play of the game came on the offensive glass, as he scored on a 3-point play inside to bring the Mavericks back to within one, down just 45-44. He hit a corner 3-pointer on a find from Flagg with 2:25 left in the third to keep the Mavs connected, down 91-85 at the time. Marshall’s buzzer-beating baseline jumper after his 3-pointer was blocked by Jaxon Hayes seconds earlier made it a 98-94 game headed to the fourth quarter.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ericks-129-119-loss-at-the-los-angeles-lakers

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 considerations as the Dallas Mavericks stay in LA to face the Clippers

The Dallas Mavericks (5-15) remain in Los Angeles Saturday to take on the Clippers (5-14). Both teams are coming off close losses; Dallas fell to the Lakers on Friday night, 129-119 and the Clippers couldn’t pull one out against the Grizzlies at home despite 39 points from Kawhi Leonard, losing 112-107.

Roughly a quarter of the way through the season, both the Clippers and Mavericks have been wildly disappointing relative to expectations. We know the deal with Dallas: they don’t have playmaking off the dribble and their vaunted big men group can’t stay healthy. They don’t have enough shooting either. The Clippers came into the season with sky-high expectations. They closed last year well and made roster improvements in the offseason. But it turns out having an incredibly old team in aggregate is risky and they’ve looked slow and disinterested. They did, however, beat the Mavericks earlier in the month in a thrilling double overtime game.

Here’s some things to think about before tonight’s late start (9:00 pm).

Who is actually going to play?​

This is really a question about the availability of two of the NBA’s premier guys who don’t suit up enough: Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. It feels a safe bet to assume Davis won’t play. His return Friday night was his first game in nearly a month following a calf strain and perhaps some conditioning. He looked fine, good actually, and it would be wise of the Mavericks to bring him back slowly. The season’s over whether people want to admit it or not, so him getting hurt and becoming untradable would be a disaster.

Kawhi is a more interesting case. I don’t remember if he plays back-to-backs in normal situations but he’s recently returned from a 3 week absence following an ankle sprain. He was on fire last night against the Grizzlies and if he’s healthy enough to score 39, he should be healthy enough to play. The seasons slipping away for the Clippers and they have no reason to stop playing since they don’t own their own pick (the Thunder do, ugh).

Young legs for Dallas​

The aforementioned old Clippers really ARE old. But the Mavericks have some youth they can roll out to push the pace on this Los Angeles team and perhaps grind out a win on a tired Saturday night. Cooper Flagg and Andrew Nembhard looked good against the Lakers. But Moussa Cisse and Jaden Hardy didn’t see the floor at all. Since I assume Davis will be out, Cisse in particular has a chance to use his endless energy to wear the Clipper bigs out.

Best chance for a Maverick win on this road trip​

Before the NBA announced the Mavericks will be playing Utah and Brooklyn as additional games since they won’t advance in the NBA Cup, this Clippers game was one of the few remaining in 2025 where I thought the Mavericks either might be favored or stood a good chance to win. Considering the Clippers are currently a 7.5 point favorite as of this writing, it seems I’ve underestimated Los Angeles.

But I still believe Dallas can and maybe should win. I really want to see Leonard play and see he and Flagg match up against one another. The Mavericks just need to play hard and limit turnovers and they should be right there at the end of the game even if James Harden or Leonard go off.

How to watch​

Tonight’s game starts at 9:00 pm. The game will be streamed live on MavsTV as well as broadcast side-by-side on WFAA & KFAA-29. Fans can also tune in at 97.1FM KEGL (English) or at 99.1FM KFZO (Español).

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...las-mavericks-stay-in-la-to-face-the-clippers

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Clippers recap: Shorthanded Dallas pulls out 114-110 win at Los Angeles Clippers

The Dallas Mavericks (6-15) found a way on Saturday behind 35 points and eight rebounds from rookie phenom Cooper Flagg and pulled out a gutty 114-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers (5-15) at the Intuit Dome.

This team must be cursed, though, man. Without Anthony Davis on the second night of a back-to-back and without Daniel Gafford, who sat against the Clippers with an ankle injury, P.J. Washington was a late scratch from the Mavericks’ roster after slipping on a wayward basketball during warmups. Washington was getting treatment on his right ankle after the fall, according to the broadcast on KFAA, and Naji Marshall replaced him in the starting lineup.

Kahwi Leonard came into the game averaging 26 points per game over the last three, including a 15-of-24, 39-point performance in Friday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzles. But without any presence to speak of on the interior, it was Ivica Zubac who feasted early on as the Clippers used an early 12-2 run to sprint out to a 15-6 lead.

With the Mavs begging for offense early on, Cooper Flagg answered the bell as he’s not often done, scoring Dallas’ first eight points of the game. Flagg scored 12 points in the game’s first nine minutes in his best first quarter of the season by a mile.

The rest of the team struggled around Flagg, though, shooting a collective 2-for-10 in the game’s first nine minutes. Brandon Williams came in to give Dallas a lift with eight points off the bench toward the end of the first, and the Clippers took a 28-25 lead after one.

A rare 3-point play from Dwight Powell and a 3-pointer from newly enshrined starting point guard Ryan Nambhard swung things in the Mavs’ favor early in the second. Dallas went on a 15-4 run starting late in the first to take the lead before LA responded with a 14-2 run of their own midway through the frame to take the lead back, 42-35, on a pair of free throws from James Harden.

Flagg was the constant for the Mavs in the first half. He was aggressive with the ball in his hands, driving decisively on a night when Dallas needed everything the 18-year-old rookie could give the team. He followed his 12-point first quarter with nine more in the second as the Mavericks hung around, trailing 56-49 at halftime. Flagg shot 10-of-17 in the first half in an effort that the Mavs desperately need to see replicated as the season wears on.

Flagg unfurled​

Perhaps Flagg’s big night was a function of the injury-depleted roster the Mavericks were forced to go to battle with on Saturday. Or, perhaps it was a step toward the realization on his part and on the part of his teammates that Flagg’s time is now. Whatever the case, at the quarter pole of the season, we largely know what this team is and what it isn’t.

The most important thing the Mavericks can accomplish the rest of the way is cementing Flagg’s position as the alpha dog on this roster. He got to the basket at will with a lethal left hand all night against the Clippers, and that needs to be the blueprint going forward.

Flagg detonated for an explosive driving slam over Zubac to bring the Mavericks to within 65-61 with 7:55 left in the third before hitting a turnaround inside through Leonard’s foul the next time down for a 3-point play. He found Moussa Cisse streaking in transition for a hoop inside over two Clippers to give Dallas its first lead of the second half, 69-67, midway through the third.

Oh my COOP

: KFAA 29 pic.twitter.com/MxajU8kk1B

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 30, 2025

“Just staying with it,” Flagg said in his televised postgame interview. “We’ve got a lot of talented guys, so it’s going to be someone different every night. These guys just give me confidence, they tell me to go out there and be myself. I’m just figuring it out.”

Flagg’s 35 points are the most scored by a rookie this season. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to notch a 30-point game in the win over the Clippers.

A little good, a little bad​

The good news? The Mavericks limited the turnovers against the Clippers on Saturday, coughing the ball up only once in the first half and just eight times in the win after coming into the game 26th in the league in turnovers, at 16.6 per game.

The bad news? The 3-pointer was once again non-existent for Dallas until Klay Thompson got hot in the second half. They hit just 2-of-20 (10%) in the first half and just 11-of-39 (28.2%) for the game. Cormac Karl “Max” Christie, who has been the Mavs’ only bright spot from 3-point range this season, went 0-for-6 from deep, including 0-for-2 from the corner, in the first half on his way to 1-of-8 from 3-point land in the win.

Dallas fared much better from the perimeter in the third quarter, improving to 5-of-8 from 3-point range, including a pair from both Nembhard and Klay Thompson. Better shooting helped the Mavs erase the Clippers’ seven-point halftime advantage and send the game to the fourth quarter knotted up at 83-83.

Kawhi vs. Klay throwback​

Leonard scored nine points in the first four minutes of the second half to give the wily veteran his second 30-point game in as many nights. He was the Clippers’ answer every time the Mavs wrestled the lead back. Leonard’s 3-point play on an 18-foot runner with less than nine minutes to play gave Los Angeles a 92-89 lead.

Flagg turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter as LA sent more and more double-teams his way. His right thumb also seems to be bothering him, which could have been part of his second-half drop-off on Saturday.

Thompson scored all 23 of his points in the second half, including six 3-pointers. His turnaround from four feet behind the 3-point line with 4:30 left in the game tied the game, 96-96. After two more free throws from Harden the next time down, Thompson rinsed and repeated that clutch-time stroke for his fifth 3-ball of the second half to give the Mavericks a 99-98 lead.

Flagg rose up for a perimeter jumper with 2:47 left to put the Mavs back in front 101-100 before John Collins answered with his first 3-pointer of the game to see-saw Los Angeles back in front. Then, with 1:45 left, Thompson just beat the shot clock for his sixth 3-pointer of the second half to give Dallas back the lead. Two free throws from Flagg gave the rookie a new season- and career-high mark of 31 points with 1:20 left, and the Mavericks held on for the gutsy win.

Leonard led LA with 30 points and eight boards in the loss, while Harden added 29 points and 11 assists.

The Dwight Powell game​

The Mavericks don’t win this game without a gargantuan effort from ever-present glue guy Dwight Powell, who finished with nine points, five rebounds and six steals after Mavs head coach Jason Kidd broke glass in case of roster emergency. In what turned into a crazy game down the stretch, Powell was a steady presence all night long.

Sure, he couldn’t do much against the much bigger Zubac in one-on-one situations in the post. But Powell seems to always find a way to leave his fingerprints on one weird win a year, and Saturday night was that night this year.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...s-angeles-clippers-cooper-flagg-kawhi-leonard

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Clippers

The Dallas Mavericks finished off their November schedule on Saturday night, beating the Los Angeles Clippers by a final score of 114-110. As a result, the Mavericks enter the final month of the calendar year with a 6-15 record, looking to build on the win going forward.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: B-​

8 PTS / 1 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN​

Nembhard came off a great game with a relatively mediocre follow-up. He wasn’t necessarily bad, though his shot was off (3-for-8), but was generally quiet, leaving little impact on the game.

Max Christie: D​

3 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN​

Christie’s brother plays for the Clippers and his parents were in the stands to watch the brothers face off. We often see players have big games in their home town or when they play in front of family, but that wasn’t the case tonight. Max’s brother Cam did not play at all, and unfortunately Max appeared as though he didn’t either. He was 1-for-9 from the floor and contributed little else to the effort. I just wasn’t his night, as he missed seven of eight three-point attempts despite the long ball being his specialty to this point in the season.

Cooper Flagg: A+​

35 PTS / 8 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN​

A+ grades should be saved for the “best of the best” type of games. When it comes to Flagg, the sample size remains small, but it’s difficult to deny him top honors in a game he scored his career high (second youngest player to ever score 30 points in a game), shot almost 60% (13-for-22), was the go-to guy throughout the clutch, and rose to the moment consistently. His game was not flawless, as he got overwhelmed a few times by some elite defense, but he played like a star all night. Nailing two free throws with under ten seconds left not only all but sealed the deal, but gave Flagg the highest scoring game of any rookie this season.

Naji Marshall: A-​

18 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 37 MIN​

I sat on this grade for a while, feeling like there were far too many A ranks tonight, but couldn’t quite talk myself out an A- here. Marshall was 6-for-11 from the floor, didn’t turn the ball over, and did just about everything you could ask for aside from a slightly inefficient 2-for-6 on threes. He was sniffing a double-double, joined the heist party with three steals, and nailed two free throws to make a last ditch Clippers heave irrelevant even had it gone in. Great job stepping into the starting role without about five minutes advance notice.

Dwight Powell: A-​

9 PTS / 5 REB / 3 AST / 6 STL / 1 BLK – 34 MIN​

I did not anticipate Dwight Powell having two A grades on the season, especially not within the first 21 games, but here we are. Powell once again stepped in when his number was called and had himself a nice game. The grade may seem falsely inflated, but if you get yourself a career high six steals, you have my attention. He committed five fouls, but otherwise had himself a solid game with efficient shooting (3-for-4 from both the floor and the free throw line) and surprisingly effective defense.

Brandon Williams: B​

14 PTS / 1 REB / 7 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 26 MIN​

The other day I stated that even if Williams could shoot a horrendous 30% from the floor, the Mavs would have a couple more wins on their ledger. That’s how poorly he has been shooting. Ironically, he shot nearly 36% (5-for-14) tonight and the Mavs indeed won. While 36% isn’t exactly noteworthy, it’s a big improvement from where he has been, and I’d hazard a guess that he was actually fouled on at least two drives that landed on the stat sheet as misses. He again played hard, took care of the ball en route to a 7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio , and swiped himself three steals.

Klay Thompson: A+​

23 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 26 MIN​

Thompson has basically lived in the basement or been outright omitted from our Grades pieces to this point in the season, so it is with especially great pleasure to see him reverse course tonight. Is the A+ a touch generous? Perhaps, considering how quiet he was for the entire first half. However, dropping a season high in points, hitting multiple crucial threes in the fourth quarter, and doing exactly what he is here to do (8-for-13 from the floor and a scorching 6-for-10 from deep) gets him top marks in this one. He does not lose the edge for what could have been a disastrously bone-headed foul in the waning moments, which resulted in three free throws for James Harden. I refuse to believe that a shooter spreading his legs just prior to landing, causing himself to step on the defender’s foot, is actually a defensive foul in any plane of reality.

Final Thoughts​

Two weeks ago, The Mavs lost to the Clippers in a double overtime game that gave LA only their second win of the season when Kawhi Leonard does not play. This time, Leonard was on the floor on the second night of a back-to-back (for both teams) and Dallas was able to get the better of LA.

Earlier this month, the Mavs were in the liminal space between being a team that would attempt to make a run if they could get healthy, and a team that may look to tank for a higher draft pick in the offseason. With the Mavs going 2-8 over their past ten games coming into tonight, followed by news that Dereck Lively is expected to miss extended time, tanking was looking more likely whether the Mavs wanted to or not. One glance at the starting lineup would indicate the Mavs were in fact bagging this one on purpsose, however legit injuries and load management played a part in why the Mavs were without the services of Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, P.J. Washington (who tweaked his ankle in warmups) and Anthony Davis.

On paper, the Mavs should arguably have been run off the floor, but instead they played an excellent game, matching every Clippers’ run with a run of their own, netting themselves an impressive and hard-earned win.

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/dalla...cks-clippers-cooper-flagg-career-high-114-110

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Nuggets preview: 3 things to watch for as Dallas finishes road trip at Denver

The Dallas Mavericks (6-15) will wrap up their five-game road trip on Monday, and the last leg of the jaunt looks like a doozy.

The Mavericks will travel to Denver for one more late appointment with the Denver Nuggets (14-5), who currently sit at fourth in a stacked Western Conference. Tipoff at Ball Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. CDT.

The Nuggets have gone 3-3 in their last six games after running off seven wins in a row in early November. Denver put the hurt on the Phoenix Suns, 130-118, on Saturday in Phoenix behind 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists from their Indomitable Snowman, Nikola Jokic, and 24 more from point guard Jamal Murray.

Dallas comes into the game on the heels of a much-needed 114-110 win at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, after dropping four in a row before that. Budding rookie star Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record 35 or more points in a game in the win.

Here are three storylines that loom large heading into the latest in a brutal stretch of scheduling (and injuries) for the Mavs.

Speaking of injuries​

So who exactly will be available for the Mavericks at Denver on Monday? Anthony Davis is listed as probable for the marquee matchup after missing Saturday’s game, which was the second night of a back-to-back set. He returned for Friday’s 129-119 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers after missing 14 in a row with a calf injury.

Flagg is listed on the injury report but is available on Monday. His right thumb was clearly bothering him at times, even as he put together that gargantuan, difference-making effort against the Clippers. Don’t be surprised if the thumb eventually causes Flagg to miss a game or two as December wears on. He’s played 20 games over the last six weeks after playing 37 games total last season as a freshman at Duke.

Daniel Gafford is doubtful as of Sunday’s 8:30 p.m. injury report with a right ankle issue that caused him to miss the game against the Clippers, Dereck Lively II is still out with that bum foot and both P.J. Washington (ankle) and backup point guard Brandon Williams (adductor) are listed as questionable for Monday. Washington, from the “you just can’t make this shit up” file, slipped on a wayward basketball in team warmups before Saturday’s game at the Clippers and turned his ankle in the process. Even if both those last two can go, the Dallas frontcourt will be a little thin behind Davis on Monday against another big, long opponent.

For their part, the Nuggets will be without guard Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) on Monday, while Jokic is listed as probable, with a left wrist issue.

Point guard shuffle​

Ryan Nembhard has started the last two games at the point for the Mavericks and has looked pretty good for a little feller in the process. He scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in Friday’s loss at the Lakers and has hit 5-of-10 from 3-point range in the LA portion of the team’s current road swing.

Nembhard will draw a tough assignment if he’s granted a third straight start, trying to contain Murray, who comes into the game averaging 24 points and 6.6 assists in 35 minutes per game.

Dallas has tried Flagg at point guard. Then the Mavs gave Williams a chance to start. Head coach Jason Kidd even gave free-agent point guard D’Angelo Russell a token shot to bring the ball up for a couple of games along the way before sending him to end-of-bench oblivion in the past two games. The grand solution to surviving at the most important position on the floor in Kyrie Irving’s absence does not exist on this roster. It is what it is.

But Dallas may be onto something with Nembhard’s pure pass-and-shoot skillset. The Mavericks have turned the ball over just 17 times in their last two games combined after going into Saturday’s game against the Clippers at 26th in the league in turnovers per game (16.6).

3-point disparity, again​

The Mavs woke up from behind the 3-point line in the second half on Saturday, due in large part to the 23-point explosion (on six made 3-pointers) of Klay Thompson, against the Clippers. They shot just 2-of-20 from distance in the first half before flipping the script and canning 9-of-19 in the second half. The 28.9% shooting figure for the game still doesn’t look good, but the second-half turnaround was a huge part of finding a way to win that game. Still, the Mavs come into the game at 29th in the league in 3-point shooting, at just 32.2% on the year.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, have a hot hand from 3-point land as they approach the quarter pole of their 2025-26 campaign — one of the hottest, actually. Denver comes into Monday’s game at third in the league in 3-point shooting, hitting at a 39.2% clip this year. Denver attempts 34.3 3-pointers per game (23rd in the NBA), while Dallas hoists 35.2 (22nd in the NBA). So, while neither team shoots them in bulk, the Nuggets just make a couple more than the Mavs do on the average night.

Denver went ballistic on the Suns from 3-point range in Saturday’s, hitting 22-of-38 (58%) in the win. Former Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr. was a huge part of that win, as he went 7-of-11 from beyond the arc off the bench for the Nuggets, ending the night with 23 points. He comes into the game scoring 11.9 points per game on 42.9% shooting from 3-point land so far this season. But if Mavericks’ fans know anything about the Tim Hardaway Jr. Experience, it’s this — a peak performance like Saturday’s may mean a prolonged valley is incoming.

Better not to chance it, though, with the potential “revenge game” situation on the Mavs’ hands on Monday. Get a hand in his face.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...enver-cooper-flagg-anthony-davis-nikola-jokic

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

ESPN: Chicago Bulls weigh Anthony Davis trade

The Chicago Bulls, the most dependable play-in spot in the eastern conference, started off hot this season. At one point sitting atop the east there was a brief moment where it looked like perhaps head coach Billy Donovan’s young core were turning a corner with a 6-1 start to the season. Now the team is 9-10, perched in familiar tenth. And according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, team leadership has gone back to the drawing board to evaluate how they can take the next step. Those discussions have included the possibility of trading for Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis.

The idea itself is not new. As soon as the reality in Dallas was acknowledged, Nico Harrison was fired, and Davis was forced by team ownership to take extra time to rehab his most recent injury, trade machine ideas of Davis returning to his hometown of Chicago began rumbling. But any sourced reporting on those conversations is a revelation, as Collier indicates the team believes Davis could help shore up their rim protection and interior defense. The Bulls as an organization have been adept at moves just like this — both valuing players from the city (Collier points out there are currently several Chicago natives on the team), and making aggressive moves that don’t fully add up to the timeline their roster is on.

Which is why Davis makes so much sense there, and perhaps why this could also prove a challenge:

“Team sources said the Bulls will not sacrifice any of their young core to execute such a deal until the team is closer to contention.

“I don’t think going out and chasing X megastar is the way to proceed — at least today,” one source told ESPN.“

It will still take some time to better understand the appetite of Dallas’ front office to trade Davis. It is possible they overvalue Davis’ market and would want several picks and young players in return. But if they want to truly rip the bandaid off and begin building around Cooper Flagg in earnest, they will need to consider all avenues to accomplish this. They aren’t on a ticking clock yet, with the December 15 date still two weeks away (when most players across the league become trade eligible), and the deadline much further. This is mainly worth noting as “step one” in a possible trade for Davis. And eyes should stay close to the sourced messaging coming out of Chicago in particular.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...d-anthony-davis-trade-rumors-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 131-121 win at the Denver Nuggets

The Dallas Mavericks (7-15), played their best game of the season to date in Monday’s 131-121 win over the Denver Nuggets (14-6) at Ball Arena.

Here are three stats (or quasi-stats) that stood out as key ingredients in the back-and-forth battle in the Mile High City.

2: Mavericks opening day starters still starting on Monday​

That’s the number of opening night starters the Dallas Mavericks were able to field in Monday’s starting five against the Denver Nuggets, and Anthony Davis only just recently became available to suit up for the Mavs after another 14-game absence due to a calf injury.

Some of the names on Dallas’s injury list for the Nuggets game included P.J. Washington (ankle), Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Dereck Lively (foot). Outside of Davis, who is obviously the most forceful defensive presence on the team (when healthy) Dallas was without three of their other four most defensively capable players. Thankfully, Naji Marshall was healthy and did play. Fortunately for Dallas, Davis provided an offensive spark in the first half, producing 21 points in just under 17 minutes. He helped the team battle in the paint enough for the defense to keep them in the game.

41 and 42 points: Denver’s first quarter, Dallas’ second-quarter scoring​

The first half was comprised of identically dominant quarters, with Denver’s first-quarter dominance see-sawing into Dallas’ second-quarter brilliance. The Nuggets scored 41 points in the first quarter before the Mavs one-upped the home team with 42 points in the second quarter. Both teams scored 27 points in the quarters they lost.

With Dallas’ thin roster, they needed some help from anyone and everyone tonight. Ryan Nembhard answered the call in the second and third quarters after a scoreless first. He shot 5-of-6 from the field in just under 17 minutes in the first half and was instrumental to Dallas’s pivotal 18-2 second-quarter run that brought them back into the mix after a slow start. He went on to score a season- and career-high 28 points as he continues to prove his worth on an injury-prone Mavericks’ roster.

After the rough first quarter, Dallas took over the second by beating Denver in transition and outpacing them. The Mavs are currently ranked fifth in the league in pace. That speed certainly helps when the shots are falling. To make it even smoother sailing for Dallas, Denver struggled defensively in the second, perhaps an effect of their decision to rest Jokic for a good chunk after they’d hopped out to that 41-27 lead after one. Jokic came into the game listed as questionable with a wrist injury.

Overall, this was a high scoring game, with both teams struggling on defense at times, and both riding peaks on the offensive end. It’s not a surprise that the final stat below would play a deciding factor in this game that had a combined 252 points.

51.6%: Mavericks’ 3-point shooting​

As expected, Nikola Jokic put together another masterclass in combined effectiveness. He finished with 29 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists. Good god, man.

But Dallas’s 3-point shooting, much to everyone’s surprise, put Monday’s win away. Dallas went 16-of-31 (51.6%) from distance to stun the Nuggets and hand them their fourth straight loss at home. Monday night was perhaps Dallas’s finest performance of the season thus far, with strong offensive performances from Cooper Flagg (24 points, eight rebounds), Anthony Davis (32 points, 13 boards), Ryan Nembhart (28 points, 10 assists) and Klay Thompson (15 points, five rebounds).

Granted, Denver was without two of its better defenders — with Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) both nursing injuries — but Dallas also showed up and showed out, with several guys putting their stamp on a major win.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...stats-ryan-nembhard-nikola-jokic-cooper-flagg

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Cooper Flagg named Western Conference Rookie of the Month

Cooper Flagg was recognized for his early season success Tuesday when the NBA announced the Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month. Flagg represented the Western Conference, while former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets took home the Eastern Conference award.

The award recognized the rookies’ excellence through the games played in October and November, since the season started in mid-October. Flagg averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in 20 contests during this time period, including a 35-point performance Nov. 30 to lead Dallas to its 6th win of the season against a reeling Los Angeles Clippers team in Inglewood, California.

48 hours later, Flagg helped lead Dallas to an upset victory over the contending Denver Nuggets with a 24-point, 8-rebound performance to solidify his position as the West’s best rookie during the season’s first six weeks. He’s taken a sizable leap in the last two weeks, averaging 19.6 points on 50% shooting in seven games from Nov. 16 to Nov. 30.

At just 18 years old, Flagg is matching records not seen since LeBron James entered the league over two decades ago. He is the youngest player in NBA history to score 35 points in a game after his performance against the Clippers and he’s the second-youngest to ever score 30 in a game (trailing only James, who needed two overtimes to reach 30 points in a Nov. 2003 contest against the Memphis Grizzlies). Additionally, Flagg is the youngest player to ever record 10 assists in a game.

Flagg seems to improve with each game. In the team’s Monday victory over Denver, he led the offense at times and took advantage of a reeling Denver defense to create good looks for himself and his teammates. Anthony Davis had 32 points and rookie guard Ryan Nembhard had 28 points, and both guys were getting good looks because of the defensive attention Flagg requires when he has the ball.

When the game is in the balance, Flagg elevates his game to another level. His 52 points in ‘clutch games’ — defined as a game within five points with five or less minutes remaining — are fourth in the league, trailing only SGA, Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey. He’s shooting 59.3% in clutch situations, which is the highest amongst the top-10 clutch scorers this season.

He’s getting his reps and he’s producing when his number gets called. The Mavericks may not be winning as much as he was at Duke, but it’s been a remarkable first six weeks for this 18-year old rookie, who will be battling his former Duke teammate Knueppel all year to see who takes home the Rookie of the Year trophy.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...-named-western-conference-rookie-of-the-month

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Heat preview: 3 things Dallas needs to get a third win in a row

Have the Dallas Mavericks (7-15) leveled up since the team’s last meeting with the Miami Heat (14-7) — or were the last two games merely blips on the radar?

The injury-riddled, try-hard Mavericks pushed a Heat team without the services of Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and Norman Powell, and with Tyler Herro playing in his first game of the season following ankle surgery in September, to the brink last week but eventually fell 106-102 at the Kaseya Center. So what can this version of the Mavs, with a suddenly emergent rookie point guard in Ryan Nembhard and Cooper Flagg in full bloom, do differently this second time around to get their second straight win over a quality opponent on Wednesday when the Heat come to American Airlines Center?

Let’s dive in.

Continue to cut down turnovers​

The Mavericks turned the ball over 16 times in last week’s loss at the Heat. That’s about the team’s average, and it puts them in the bottom third of the NBA (23rd of 30 teams) in the ball security department. And that, my friends, is progress. Less than two weeks ago, Dallas was circling the drain, tied for a league-worst turnover-per-game average.

In the three games since their last meeting with Miami, Dallas has turned the ball over just 25 times, and it hasn’t just been cleaner play for clean play’s sake. The Mavs have now won back-to-back games for the first time all season, as Nembhard has taken over starting point guard duties and pleasantly surprised us all in the process.

There are several things, like injury and roster construction, that are at least somewhat beyond the control of the individual players on the floor on a night-to-night basis. What they can control more is taking care of the basketball when it comes their way, and in the admittedly small sample size of a quarter of the 2025-26 season, cutting down turnovers has directly correlated with wins.

Health trending in the right direction​

As of Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. injury report, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, both of whom are nursing ankle issues, are the only two Mavericks listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Heat. It can only be taken as a good sign that Anthony Davis isn’t listed on the report at all after banging his hand on the rim while jumping to receive a pass from Naji Marshall in the second quarter of Monday’s 131-121 win against the Denver Nuggets. The medical staff checked out Davis’ hand on the bench before he returned to the game late in the second, then scored nine of his game-high 32 points in the fourth.

Davis was not available for last week’s loss in Miami, but on the Heat’s side, neither was Powell, Wiggins or Jovic. Having Davis back, and hopefully getting one or both of Washington and Gafford back in the rotation, would represent a huge roster upgrade for the Mavericks the second time around — and Dallas may need that extra firepower. Wiggins (17.5 points per game) and Jovic (7.8) are listed as available for Wednesday’s game, and Powell (25 points per game) is listed as questionable.

All the defense​

In his four games back on the floor this year, Herro is averaging 24.8 points per game. Powell scored 30 in his first game back from his recent ankle injury. Wiggins scored 31 in his first game back from a left hip flexor issue as well. The Heat can score at will from everywhere and will run you out of the gym if you let them.

It’s not just one-on-one matchups. Their system is built on sprinting out of everything — made baskets as well as misses and live-ball turnovers. The Heat replace the pick-and-roll with utter chaos, and under the direction of maestro Eric Spoelstra, it seems to be working. Miami is second in the NBA in points per game (124.3), they’re fifth in rebounds per game (46.2, likely a product of turning every game possible into a track meet) and second in assists per game (30.3).

Everyone can run, and everyone can score, and they appear to be having a great time doing it, as the Heat are currently tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. With both teams availing themselves of a fuller clip than they did the last time they met, Wednesday night will be a truer test of how Dallas stacks up against one of the hottest commodities out East.

How to watch​

The Mavericks host the Heat at 7:30 p.m. CST Wednesday at American Airlines Center. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and various regional affiliates, and it can also be streamed on MavsTV and NBA League Pass.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...owell-tyler-herro-anthony-davis-ryan-nembhard

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: Mavericks try to cool off red-hot Heat in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks return home for a rematch with the Miami Heat, hoping to extend their win streak to three. Dallas nearly stole the last meeting in Miami, falling 106–102 despite missing Anthony Davis and relying on a hobbled rotation.

Now, with Davis back in the mix and Ryan Nembhard stepping into his own as a confident floor general, the Mavericks are showing signs of cohesion. Cooper Flagg continues his upward trajectory, and Klay Thompson is flashing vintage spurts — but Miami, simply put, is a different beast.

The Heat are running arguably the wildest offense in the league. They average just 12 screens per 100 possessions — dead last by a mile — and opt instead for non-stop movement, cuts, flare-outs, and early-shot-clock aggression. It’s systemized chaos. Spoelstra has turned this roster into a sprint-and-sling machine that thrives off pace and misdirection. They’re currently second in the league in both points and assists per game, and it feels earned.

Tyler Herro (24.8 PPG), Norman Powell (25.0 PPG), and Andrew Wiggins (17.5 PPG) are all in rhythm coming off injury returns, and Miami just posted 124+ in three straight contests. It’s a lot for a short-handed Dallas team to contain — especially if Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington (both GTD with ankle issues) don’t suit up.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

---

Fixture: Miami Heat (14–7, 6–4 away) at Dallas Mavericks (7–15, 4–5 home)
Tipoff: December 3 | American Airlines Center | 7:30 p.m. CST
TV: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV, NBA League Pass
DraftKings Line as of 5:00am CST: MIA -4.5 | O/U 240.5 | ML: MIA -175 / DAL +145

---

Injury Report Highlights:

Miami Heat:

• Terry Rozier: OUT (knee) — est. return Dec 18
• Keshad Johnson, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson: GTD

Dallas Mavericks:

• Dereck Lively II: OUT (ankle) — est. return Dec 5
• Dante Exum: OUT (shoulder)
• Kyrie Irving: OUT (heel) — est. return Jan 1
• Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington: GTD (ankle)

---

Game Sides​

Spread: Heat -4.5 at Mavericks
Lean: Heat -4.5

• Dallas has put together two gritty wins, but Miami is not Denver.
• Nembhard was left open repeatedly by a lax Nuggets defense — Spoelstra’s scheme won’t allow that.
• Miami is clicking offensively and playing fast. Their rim pressure and early-clock threes are likely to overwhelm a Mavs defense missing its core bigs.

Total: 240.5
Lean: Over 240.5

• This is the highest line of the Mavs’ season and it still might not be high enough.
• Miami leads the league in pace-adjusted efficiency and has scored 124+ in 3 straight.
• If Flagg and Thompson stay hot, Dallas should do enough to help clear this number — especially in a potential 4th-quarter chase game.

---

Player Props​

Tyler Herro over 21.5 points (-111)
Herro’s played four games since returning from ankle surgery — averaging 24.8 PPG. The Mavs have no stopper at the point of attack, and he should get plenty of clean looks curling off movement and exploiting mismatches in transition.

Anthony Davis over 11.5 rebounds (+102)
Davis dropped 32 points in the last game and is averaging nearly 10 RPG on the season. With Lively out and Gafford questionable, AD could feast on the glass against a Miami squad that sends multiple cutters but often concedes weak-side rebounding.

Norman Powell over 2.5 threes (-142)
It’s juiced, but for good reason — Powell’s hit 3+ triples in every game since returning. With the Mavs rotating slower forwards like PJ and Max Christie, Powell should get his shots off.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ericks-try-to-cool-off-red-hot-heat-in-dallas

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Heat

The Dallas Mavericks took on the Miami Heat for the second time in about as many weeks. Looking to extend their first win streak of the season, the Mavericks did exactly that with a 118-108 win.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: A​

15 PTS / 5 REB / 13 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 34 MIN​

This game was not the career night he had the other day, but what this guy is doing is majorly impressive. Nembhard had a double-double before the third quarter buzzer sounded and once again played a terrific overall game, shooting 6-for-10 including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep, while dropping dimes with another ridiculous assist-to-turnover ratio (13:1). He is the first rookie in NBA history with a slash line of 43 points, 23 assists and one turnover over a two-game span.

Max Christie: B​

10 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 32 MIN​

Christie was quietly effective on 3-for-6 shooting (2-for-4 from deep) and hit both of his free throws. His game doesn’t jump off the page, but he was solid overall and contributed to the win on both sides of the ball, garnering a team-best plus/minus of 18.

Cooper Flagg: A​

22 PTS / 6 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 31 MIN​

Flagg got off to a red hot start, finishing 9-for-13, but somehow committed three fouls in his first 12 minutes of action. He didn’t commit another foul for the remainder of the game. His only other blemish was three turnovers. A turnaround jumper from the stripe, followed by a block, followed by a layup with under two minutes remaining in the game, basically sealed the deal. Flagg is very impressive and has shown tremendous growth, proving again he can be a go-to player for the Mavs.

Naji Marshall: B+​

18 PTS / 5 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK – 36 MIN​

Marshall had a real nice game, with excellent shooting (8-for-12) boosting his grade. He led the team in minutes played and did a lot of intangibles. He calmly drained an important three late in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Davis: B​

17 PTS / 17 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 3 BLK – 28 MIN​

Davis had a solid double-double and really cleaned the glass, but he shot inefficiently overall. Worse still, he got roasted by Kel’el Ware, who would love nothing more than to play the Mavs 82 games per year. Four turnovers did not help the cause. Credit for a big rejection against Ware in the closing minutes, and acknowledgment for the injured finger that likely affected the shooting efficiency, and credit for a couple of big shots when they mattered.

D’Angelo Russell: B​

10 PTS / 3 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 15 MIN​

Russell found his shot (4-for-7 and 2-for-4 from deep) and put together a solid game, highlighted by canning two consecutive shots from deep (one of the circus variety) to bolster a Mavs’ lead that had dwindled a bit at the time. Those shots really can’t be understated. Playing alongside another ball-handling guard seems to be helping Russell and it’s nice to see him willing to play that role.

Klay Thompson: B+​

17 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 26 MIN​

Thompson coming off the bench appears to be working. Since moving to the second unit, Thompson has produced at a level similar to what we saw last year when he started full-time. He came ready to shoot (five attempts in his first five minutes) and his aim was true from deep, though his shots from inside the arc were less effective (6-for-17 overall, 5-for-12 from three). He gave the team a nice boost and helped them grab the lead in the second quarter.

Daniel Gafford: N/A​

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

Gafford came off the bench as he is still nursing a right ankle injury. In a disappointing turn of events, he re-injured that same ankle late in the third quarter and went to the locker room.

Final thoughts​

Despite Daniel Gafford being available, the Mavericks somewhat surprisingly started Anthony Davis at center, thus giving them one of the more conventional starting lineups they’ve featured all season. Trailing in the opening minutes, the Mavs chipped away to take the lead, then blew things open for a bit. At one point they were up by 17 points and it dawned on me that we’ve not seen that much this season.

Dallas is now on a three game winning streak and looking like a solid team, as Nembhard has gotten minutes, Davis has returned from injury and Flagg has developed rapidly.

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/nba-f...ks-vs-heat-cooper-flagg-ryan-nembhard-118-108

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things after Dallas smothers Miami, wins 118-108

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 118-108 Wednesday night in Dallas, led by Cooper Flagg’s 22-point and six-rebound effort, which included eight big fourth-quarter points as Miami was making a late push that got them to within four. And Cooper got to those 22 points without attempting a three-point shot, making it a point to move downhill towards the basket and also earning five free throws in the process.

Anthony Davis had 17 points to go with his 17 rebounds, and Klay Thompson stayed hot behind the arc, going 5-for-12 tonight.

Kel-el Ware was Miami’s leading scorer. He put in 22 points and 10 rebounds on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting night.

It almost feels like they’re doing it on purpose. On Wednesday night, just like they did on Monday against the Nuggets, the Mavs came out and fell into a quick, double-digit hole, only to flip the script and romp to a decisive victory.

While the Denver game had huge standout performances from Anthony Davis and the two rookies, Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard, tonight’s game was an offensive assault from all angles. Seven different players scored in double digits.

Who’s going to stop Nembhard?​

After his “I’ve arrived” announcement game in Denver, there was a certain sense that, once teams were wise to the Dallas rookie, he wouldn’t be able to catch opposing defenses by surprise anymore. Well, if there’s a team that’s going to put that theory to the test, it wasn’t Miami.

Not only did Nembhard put up 15 points, but he also finished with another double-double. His ability to pilot the resurgent Dallas offense was apparent on account of his team-leading 13 assists. He also had five rebounds, just for good measure.

It would be hard to heap too much praise on the undrafted rookie with how he has seemed to be the catalyst for the Mavericks’ abrupt about-face offensively. Who knew having a solid point guard on the floor could yield such good results?

A smothering defensive effort​

Miami has been making waves this season for just how fast-paced their offense has been so far this season. Predictably, that high-speed mentality has meant they’ve been among the leaders in the NBA in fast-break points. They score the second-most in the league with 19.5 per game.

The Dallas defense didn’t just hold Miami to 14 points on the fastbreak; they also outscored them with 19 fastbreak points of their own. And it wasn’t just fastbreak defense. Miami has been the league’s second-highest-scoring team (behind the aforementioned Denver, who Dallas also just contained), and Dallas held them to 108 points, 16 below their season average of 124.

There were promising signs of defensive adjustability. Tyler Herro had 20 points in the first half and looked, by all accounts, like he was going to be the main issue for Dallas’ defenders. But the Mavs came out after halftime and held Herro scoreless the entire second half on 0-for-5 shooting.

Cooper Flagg is a clutch-time menace​

Dallas has played a disproportionate amount of clutch games so far this year – that is, games within five points during the final five minutes of the game. Their 17 coming into tonight is two more than any other team so far. If nothing else, it’s something of a silver lining that, even when their record was at its worst, they were never really getting blown out.

Well, all that clutch-time practice is already paying dividends for Cooper Flagg. There was a sequence late in the fourth with Miami looking to make it a one-possession game that went: Flagg turnaround jumper, Flagg blocked shot, Flagg driving layup. Dallas’ six-point lead ballooned back to double digits and effectively ended the comeback attempt from Miami.

Flagg has said that the physicality of the NBA has been the biggest adjustment. Well, he’s looking plenty adjusted. Flagg didn’t attempt a single three the entire game, and made nearly all of his shots either in or around the paint, often seeking contact and earning multiple foul calls.

His trajectory continues to point straight up, and he couldn’t have had a more impressive series of games as these two against Denver and Miami

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ings-after-dallas-smothers-miami-wins-118-108

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Dereck Lively seeking “multiple opinions” on next steps for his injured right foot

According to the Dallas Mavericks’ public relations office, third-year center Dereck Lively II is seeking out multiple opinions on next steps concerning his injured right foot.

Lively last played in a November 21st game against the Pelicans. This season he’s played in just seven games after missing time in 2024-25 due to a fracture in his right ankle. When that fracture occurred is unclear; Lively missed several games with an ankle injury, then was reportedly put through a tough work out by former strength coach Keith Belton. The next day a CT scan revealed a stress fracture and Lively missed the next three months, returning for the final games of the regular season. Lively missed 27 games in his rookie campaign, due to both injuries and personal reasons.

The Mavericks have been cagey with this current injury by not disclosing what it is and have instead disclosed his symptoms. The main symptoms they note are “swelling” along with “discomfort”. Swelling and discomfort have a root cause, and they either do not know, which seems unlikely, or they haven’t chosen to share what the cause is. I am not sure how they’re able to get away with not sharing this information.

Given the general tomfoolery that’s surrounded the Mavericks the last year going back to trade of Luka Doncic and everything else to do with former General Manager Nico Harrison, Dallas would do well to perhaps act with some transparency. Let’s start with: what is the injury? Then they can proceed to explaining the timeline of when this started bothering Lively. Injuries are a constant in the NBA, fans understand that. But a curt press release that prompts more questions than answers isn’t the way.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...lively-injury-dallas-mavericks-right-foot-bad

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets Game of the Week: The Mavericks look to topple the mighty Thunder

The Mavericks are in Oklahoma City for a (Prime)time matchup with the Thunder. Dallas has won three in a row, and the Thunder have only lost a single game all year. This will be the Mavericks’ toughest test yet during their win streak, but if history tells us anything, they have a puncher’s chance. Cooper Flagg will look for a signature performance while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will try to continue his MVP campaign. This should be an excellent late-night snack.

Before getting into our picks, here is how we stand so far:

Last week’s results​

Tyler: -$209

David: +$489

Season to date​

Tyler: 9-11-0 (-$102)

David: 10-9-0 (+$269)

Last time out was excellent for me and not as good for Tyler. Here’s to two great weeks.

Game Details​

Fixture: Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA 2025-2026

Date and Time: Friday, December 5th, 2025; 8:40 PM CST

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK.

Odds up to date as of 1:00 PM CST from FanDuel

Game Lines​

Spread Mavericks +15 (-108)

Total O/U 228.5 (-112/-108)

Moneyline Mavericks +700

Tyler’s Plays​

• Thunder -24.5 (+245)
• Under 228.5 points (-112)
• Jalen Williams over 29.5 PRA (-130)
• Ajay Mitchell over 15.5 points (-102)

I know everyone is very high on the Mavericks at the moment, and for good reason. These three wins have been great! However, none of them came against this juggernaut. Reality hits tonight. I think it’s like 125-95, so that means the under as well. Finally, I expect the secondary playmakers for OKC to have nice nights with Shai drawing so much attention. Expect big games from the newly healthy Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the best player nobody is talking about in the NBA.

David’s Plays​

• Cooper Flagg to score 20+ points (+210)
• Mavericks +9.5 (+172)
• Shai Gelgeous-Alexander over 31.5 points (-122)
• Anthony Davis to get 25+ points (+190)

Dallas always plays the Thunder close. They have been their kryptonite for three years running, and the 15-point spread is just absurd. This will be a single-digit game. The Thunder are without Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso. That is a lot of defense they are missing. Davis should dominate Chet Holmgren, and Flagg should get to his spots as he has been. SGA is a nightmare matchup for this Dallas defense and will bear the load for the Thunder.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-thunder-cooper-flagg-shai-gilgeous-alexander

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 4 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder

A promising start devolved into a familiar nightmare on Friday for the Dallas Mavericks (8-16) in a 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (22-1) at Paycom Center. The Thunder defense clamped down on both Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis to extend Oklahoma City’s win streak to 14 and put the kibosh on the Mavs’ three-game win streak in the process.

Friday night’s game against the Thunder was always going to be a different kind of test, but Dallas failed to learn from their second-quarter mistakes and folded in the third as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10-of-12 from the field and took the fourth quarter off while the Thunder rolled over a Mavs team that was just never equipped to keep up.

Here are four stats that paint the picture of a loss that was, in retrospect, inevitable.

7-of-11: Mavericks’ shooting start​

Could the Mavericks possibly do the unthinkable and pull off the massive upset in Oklahoma City? They made their case to start the game. Dallas hit seven of their first 11 shot attempts in the first six minutes at the Thunder. Ryan Nembhard rose up for a 3-pointer from the right corner off Flagg’s drive-and-desperation-dish to set the tone. He pulled up for a contested mid-range jumper from Naji Marshall to give the Mavs an 11-9 lead just four minutes into the game before finding Flagg on a back cut for a tall alley-oop a minute and change later.

The game got downright swampy when the second string came in to give the Mavs’ starters a breath, but Dallas weathered the storm by forcing four turnovers in the game’s first eight minutes. Brandon Williams got hot late in the first quarter, scoring a team-high seven points off the bench in the frame, before D’Angelo Russell stepped back for a 3-ball with two seconds left in the first to knot the game at 27-27.

Dallas shot 11-of-22 (50%) from the field and 3-of-10 (30%) from 3-point range to keep their heads above water after one.

2-of-10: Combined first-half shooting for Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis​

The Thunder methodically took control of the game in the second quarter, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven of his nine points in the frame at the free-throw line. He led all scorers with 17 points as the Thunder took a 63-48 lead into the break.

Meanwhile, Flagg and Davis found it much harder to manufacture offense for the Mavs. Flagg shot just 2-of-6 from the field and missed both his 3-point attempts. Flagg was at least aggressive going to the basket, going 6-of-6 at the line, even as he hesitated to shoot from the outside a couple of times after those first two misses. Davis only shot the ball four times in the first half, missing all four of those attempts and looking borderline soft at times in the process. His putback attempt on the Mavericks’ last possession of the first half was swatted away by Chet Holmgren and Dallas tucked their tails going into halftime, all of a sudden down by 15 points.

The Thunder went on a 20-8 scoring run over the last 5:20 of the second quarter to put the Mavs in their place. The rest of the Mavericks shot 15-of-30 from the floor in the first half.

Flagg and Davis both missed their first attempts of the second half, while Cason Wallace nailed a corner 3-pointer and Gilgeous-Alexander made two more at the line to extend the Oklahoma lead to 20 early in the third.

95: Consecutive games with 20-plus points for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander​

After hitting those two free throws early in the third to put him at 19 points, Gilgeous-Alexander diced through the lane and scored on a scooping lay-in to give the Thunder a 72-50 lead and bring his streak of consecutive games scoring 20 or more points to 95. He was getting everything he wanted against the Mavericks’ defense, which came into the game fifth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.5).

Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time record for consecutive games of 20-plus points. He scored 20 or more in 126 straight from October 1961 through January 1963, so Gilgeous Alexander still needs 31 more in a row to move from second to first all-time with his ongoing streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 of his game-high 33 points in the third quarter as the Thunder outscored the Mavs 41-26 out of halftime. He grabbed five rebounds, dished six assists and sat the entire fourth quarter for the 12th time this season. It’s ridiculous how good Oklahoma City is.

23: Garbage-time points from Jaden Hardy​

Like clockwork, Jaden Hardy had it stuck on automatic for the Mavs with the outcome of the game already decided. He poured in 12 points in the last 5:45 of the third quarter, after the Thunder had already extended their lead to 30 points. Hardy pulled up for jumpers on back-to-back possessions late in the third to cut that lead to 94-70, but the damage had already been done.

Flagg finished the game with a halfway respectable 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Davis (1-of-9 shooting) finally connected on his first field goal of the game with 7:40 left to play. Hardy led the Mavericks with 23 points in the loss on 8-of-13 (5-of-9 from 3-point range) shooting, while Marshall chipped in 18 more.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...r-flagg-anthony-davis-shai-gilgeous-alexander

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to ponder as the Houston Rockets visit the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks (8-16, 5-9 Home) return home after a 132-111 road loss to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavs will square off against the division-leading Houston Rockets (15-5, 8-3 Away) tonight at 7:30pm.

Another tall task​

The Mavericks were facing the real possibility that their 5-16 start would translate to 5-(imagine a much bigger number here) as they stared down a very rough schedule on paper. Gutsy wins versus the Clippers, Nuggets, and Heat have Dallas sitting 8-16 entering tonight’s tussle with Houston. While still miles away from the .500 mark, finding a way to protect their home floor against a Rockets squad that will likely be without Alperen Şengün (23 points | 9 rebounds | 7 assists | 50.5% FG) would certainly keep the glimmer of hope alive for those wishing the Mavericks keep their pieces and press on towards a potential postseason appearance. Houston leads the division for good reason and has formidable lineups even without its elite big man. With no players exceeding thirty minutes of playing time against the mighty Thunder, Dallas should have enough in the tank to make this one interesting into the fourth quarter.

Nembhard now a starter​

Starting the season buried on the bench, it felt like a matter of time before Ryan Nembhard got his shot at the starting lineup. Jason Kidd began the year forcing Cooper Flagg to begin his NBA career out of position, then pivoting to stretches of starting both D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Williams (now both playing with the second unit) before handing a shot at the job to Nembhard.

Before the season, the MavsMoneyBall player preview for Nembhard, I predicted the best case: “In the best case, he defines his lane so clearly that the front office never even considers cycling his two-way spot and near season’s end he finds his way onto a permanent roster spot much the way Brandon Williams did last season.”

Marc Stein reports that Nembhard has convinced the Mavericks to secure that permanent roster spot as soon as possible. Over his five games since joining the starting lineup, Nembhard is averaging 15.6 points. 6.8 assists, and most importantly – exactly one lonely turnover per game. The Mavericks have risen to 23rd in the league with 15.7 turnovers per game on the strength of 11.7 in the last three games. Nembhard is keeping the Mavs organized, shooting when open without hesitation, and making the right reads to his teammates.

The Rockets’ Amen Thompson looms as quite the challenge for Nembhard in this contest. Putting together another solid night against the second-best defense in the league would be another stepping stone for the Maverick rookie.

Trade season looming​

Whether you believe the Mavericks’ season still has a pulse or if you are already looking forward to the 2026 NBA Draft, there is something we can all agree on—the next three games are crucial. Even though the NBA trade deadline is on February 6th 2026, it is December 15th that marks the de facto start of the trade season. Ideas chambered in the proverbial holster often must rely on including players that signed in the offseason and thus cannot be traded until the December 15th 2025 line is crossed.

It is unclear how the Dallas Mavericks view their season and their future, yet they are about to answer those questions loudly with how they approach the trade market. Staying healthy tonight against Houston, Friday’s game against Brooklyn, and the matchup with Utah on the 15th will mean—at the very least—no additional injuries to the roster. While there is no guarantee that any trades will pop off immediately, keeping players healthy is paramount for the Mavs’ brain trust as they explore options.

Where to watch​

KFAA-TV, Mavs.com, League Pass. Tipoff is set for 7:30pm CST.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...he-houston-rockets-visit-the-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping the Mavericks’ 122-109 win over the Houston Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks (9-16) were on the second night of a back-to-back, taking on the Houston Rockets (15-6) before a five-day layoff while NBA Cup games take place. Aiming to head into their break on a high note, the Mavs took it to the Rockets with a 122-109 victory.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: B+​

11 PTS / 1 REB / 7 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN​

Nembhard had two turnovers, which is noteworthy purely because that paltry total is somehow a lot for him. He once again had a solid game, hitting 5-for-7 from the field (including his only 3-point attempt). It wasn’t his best night, but there was really nothing to complain about. He’s showing that his early success was not a fluke. We’ve got a real NBA point guard on our hands, folks.

Naji Marshall: B+​

15 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN​

Marshall is on a heater lately and continued his strong play with a 6-for-8 on Saturday. He didn’t have gaudy rebounding or assist totals, but once again his intangibles were off the chart. Marshall played sticky defense to help him to a higher grade than his stat line alone would indicate.

Cooper Flagg: B+​

19 PTS / 5 REB / 3 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 36 MIN​

Flagg had a solid, well-balanced game, putting up numbers in all categories and making a couple of big shots in the waning minutes to help Dallas seal the deal. He joined P.J. Washington in putting down a couple of ferocious slams and bringing the energy Dallas has needed for quite some time. His confidence certainly has a positive impact on the home crowd, and it’s apparent his teammates feed off it as well.

P.J. Washington: A-​

14 PTS / 7 REB / 1 AST / 5 STL / 1 BLK – 26 MIN​

Washington never fails to remind me that he is a very important piece to this team, every time he comes back from an injury. He shot a solid 6-for-13, with the majority of his misses coming from beyond the arc (2-for-7). However, he hit a critically important 3-ball from his special spot in the corner during the fourth quarter when the Rockets were trying to claw back into the game. He provided fans with a personal slam dunk contest as well, which got the crowd into it and deflated the Rockets a bit. His impressive five steals helped boost his grade, as did his team-high plus/minus of +24.

Anthony Davis: A​

29 PTS / 8 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK – 30 MIN​

Davis is puzzling sometimes. How a player can look so disinterested and play so poorly, then 24 hours later go 14-for-19 from the field is befuddling. Davis looked like a different player on Saturday after Friday night’s 1-for-9 stinker against the Thunder, hitting nearly everything while also contributing a little something to each of the five primary statistical categories. Zero turnovers relative to how often he had the ball was also a nice showing.

Brandon Williams: A-​

20 PTS / 1 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN​

Williams found his shot tonight, going 8-for-12 from the floor en route to tying his season-high in scoring. He didn’t turn it over a single time as he found teammates for a solid assist total and played his typically high-energy brand of basketball.

Final Thoughts​

Don’t look now, but the Mavericks are fun! The early-season games where they looked like five strangers that couldn’t pass the ball now feel like a distant memory. The pall of the Nico Harrison era was not immediately lifted after his departure, but lately things are different. The Mavs are still dealing with injuries, but they seem to have a vibe about them that has brought emotion back to the fan base. The guys all seem to genuinely pull for each other and for the most part, everyone is engaged. Even after Davis laid a stinker at the Thunder, he came out and got to work on Saturday against the Rockets. D’Angelo Russell easily could have pouted about his benching subsequent off-ball role, but instead he seems to be doing what is asked of him without complaint. Dare we say the vibes are good.

Tonight, 16-for-22 third quarter shooting propelled the Mavs to a win. The Rockets had won 10 of 12 games coming into tonight and the Mavs not only hung with them, but outscored them big in a second half run that resulted in a 13-point win.

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/dalla...2-109-cooper-flagg-anthony-davis-kevin-durant

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 5 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 122-109 win over the Houston Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks (9-16) picked up their fourth win in five games on Saturday, toppling the Houston Rockets (15-6) 122-109 behind a full-throttle second-half surge at American Airlines Center. Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting, eight rebounds and two steals in the win. Brandon Williams chipped in a new season-high scoring mark of 20 points off the bench to go along with five assists, while Cooper Flagg added 19 points, five boards, two steals and two blocks in one of the most exciting wins of the 2025-26 season.

Every member of the Mavericks’ starting five scored in double figures in the win over Houston, who were led by Kevin Durant’s 27 points in the loss. Jabari Smith Jr. added 22.

No matter what happens with this team going forward, Saturday night’s win was one the Mavs can hang their hat on. They played with joy. They played with verve. They played with wit and grit, outscoring the Rockets 74-58 in the paint.

Here are five more stats that loomed large over one of the Mavs’ best performances of 2025.

16-of-22: Mavericks’ combined shooting start over team’s last two games​

Friday night saw the Mavericks start their 132-111 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder 7-of-11 from the field. They were even better on Saturday night to start the game against the Rockets, making eight field goals in a row after missing their first shot attempt. The 9-of-11 shooting start against Houston was the team’s best start to a game all season.

Davis, who went 1-for-9 from the field on Friday, started the game off by air-balling a fading turnaround attempt in the lane, but made his next four, recording eight points in the game’s first 5:17. After finding little-to-no room to work on Friday against the defense of Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams, Davis was decidedly more aggressive to start the game against the Rockets, who were without Alperen Sengun (illness) and Steven Adams (ankle).

Davis helped the Mavs sprint out to an early 19-8 lead in the game’s first five-plus minutes and led Dallas with eight points and three boards in the first quarter. Houston responded with a 14-4 run as the Mavericks’ subs trickled into the game, and the Mavs took a 29-26 lead after one. Durant led all scorers with 13 first-quarter points on 6-of-8 shooting for the Rockets.

13-3: Mavericks’ second-quarter scoring run​

Williams and Cormac Karl “Max” Christie fueled a 13-3 Mavericks’ run late in the second quarter after the Rockets spent the first six minutes of the quarter wrestling back the lead. Christie nailed a nasty banking 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock and was fouled on his follow-through by Smith with 4:58 left in the first half. He sunk the free throw to complete the four-point play to tie the game at 44-44.

Flagg scored on a run-out off a P.J. Washington steal to put the Mavs back in front before Williams scored the game’s next seven points on a 3-pointer of his own, a high-flying dunk when the Rockets’ defense broke down and a fading jumper the next time down to give the Mavs a 53-47 advantage.

Washington committed a bad foul on Durant’s 3-point attempt on the final possession of the first half, and Durant converted all three free throws. The Mavs would have carried the lead into halftime without that blemish, but after the free throws, the game was tied at the break, 57-57. Durant, once again, led all scorers at the half with 20 points for Houston.

19/6: First-half production for the Mavericks’ point guards​

Williams’ second-quarter heater gave the backup point guard 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the first half to lead Dallas. It was his highest-scoring half of the season. Starter Ryan Nembhard played the quiet distributor throughout the first half, scoring six points to go along with six assists before the break.

What’s even better — the pair combined for zero first-half turnovers. This is what the Mavericks need from their backcourt while Kyrie Irving is on the shelf. They need a steady hand steering the thing, and that’s what Nembhard, in particular, has brought to the team in the last six games.

Since moving into the starting lineup, Nembhard had turned the ball over just five times in five games going into Saturday. In those five games, the Mavericks have turned the ball over just 10.5 times per game, a far cry from their 16.6 per game average before Nembhard became the starter. With each passing game, that correlation is starting to feel less and less like a coincidence.

“We’re just picking up the intensity on both ends of the floor,” Williams said in his televised post-game interview after picking up a season-high 20 points in the win over Houston.

Dallas turned the ball over just six times in the first half against the Rockets.

14-0: Dallas’ third-quarter run​

Naji drills the LONG 3 at the buzzer!!
97-84 after 3Q pic.twitter.com/CmT70sa6EY

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) December 7, 2025

The Mavericks’ recent three-game winning streak, which was halted with Friday’s loss at the juggernaut that is the Thunder, may have raised some eyebrows. But at few, if at any, points did it feel like any sort of turnaround was really going to happen. I mean, really really happen. It was nice to see, it was fun, but at every point, beleaguered Mavs fans everywhere had to be wondering, is this real?

For me, the first time all season I said to myself, “The Mavericks deserve to win this game and have good things happen” came in the third quarter on Saturday against the Rockets. They were playing with a swagger heretofore unseen this season — like they deserved to beat a good team.

After falling down 68-65 on a wide open Clint Capela dunk with 7:24 left in the third, Dallas ran off 14 unanswered points on their way to out-gunning the Rockets 37-20 in what might have been the best quarter the team has played all year. They were forcing turnovers and converting fast-break opportunities at will. They made all 13 of their third-quarter paint attempts.

After taking a 79-68 lead on Washington’s steal and runaway slam with 4:33 left in the third to complete the 14-0 spurt, the Mavs weren’t done. No, not by a long shot. They kept getting to the bucket. Davis scored on two more drives to give him 25 points through three quarters, and Williams scored on another. Washington battled on the offensive glass to tip in Williams’ miss with 1:40 left in the frame, then the AAC erupted when Naji Marshall nailed a long 3-pointer near the top of the key to put an exclamation mark on the quarter and give the Mavs a 94-77 lead headed to the fourth.

What was a 14-0 run extended into a 29-9 full-body catharsis over the last seven-plus minutes of the third quarter. It was inspired. It was beautiful. And, yes, our little Mavs deserved every bit of it.

34-14: Dallas’ points-off-turnovers advantage​

COOPER SLAM!!! pic.twitter.com/wyWHLTa1FI

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) December 7, 2025

The Mavericks recorded 17 combined steals and blocked shots on the night, and used those opportunities to steal a win against the Rockets with both teams playing on the second night their respective back-to-back sets. They forced 20 Houston turnovers and outscored the Rockets 28-8 on the fast break as a direct result.

Washington had five steals in his first game back after missing four games with that freak ankle injury he sustained in pre-game warmups before Dallas’ 114-110 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavs mauled the Rockets off turnovers, outscoring Houston 34-14 in that department on their way to the 13-point win.

“Super excited to be back out there with my guys,” Washington said in his postgame presser. “It’s been a long four games. Just trying to be active on the defensive end and make it as hard as possible for [Durant] to get a touch.”

Durant scored just seven points in the second half on Saturday, in no small part to Washington’s active hands on defense.

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

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 observations after the Mavericks explode past the Houston Rockets, 122-109

The Dallas Mavericks (9-16) bounced back in a big way Saturday night, throttling the Houston Rockets (15-6) at home, 122-109. Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 29 points, eight rebounds, two assists, to go along with two steals and a block. Kevin Durant led all Houston scorers with 27 points.

Dallas played as aggressive a start to a game as they’ve played all season. With Ryan Nembhard pushing the pace and Davis and Cooper Flagg finishing plays, Dallas jumped out to a 19-8 lead. Kevin Durant plays basketball for Houston, however, and rallied back with nine straight Rockets points. Houston took the lead briefly, but a PJ Washington strip and dunk gave Dallas a 29-26 cushion after one.

The pace for both teams continued into the second quarter but Dallas maintained the lead throughout. Turnovers and foul trouble bit Houston throughout the frame and they were unable to wrestle control of the game, even if they did take the lead midway through the frame. A pair of late mistakes from the Dallas defense allowed the Rockets to tie it up at 57 just before halftime.

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The two teams traded baskets for the first half of the third quarter. Amen Thompson picked up his fourth foul, which would portend serious problems to come for Houston. After the Rockets took a 68-65 lead on a goofy backcourt turnover around the seven-minute mark, the Dallas defense came alive. The Mavericks rattled off a 14-0 run on the back of four Houston turnovers in rapid succession. The Mavericks scored on something close to 12 straight possessions and built up a 17-point lead to take into the final frame. Dallas led 94-77 after three periods of play.

The Maverick lead grew to as many as 22 before Dallas took their collective foot off the gas. Houston took advantage of the lull from Dallas, forced a number of turnovers, and chipped the lead back to 11 by the five minute mark. Brandon Williams made one of the best fast break steals I remember seeing, effectively ending any chance Houston had of making a comeback. In the end, Dallas won their fourth game in five tries, this time beating the Houston Rockets, 122-109.

You saw the vision in the third quarter​

With all disrespect due to our dearly departed former general manager, the third quarter stretch where the defensive whirling dervish of Flagg, Washington and Davis forced the Rockets into a bundle of turnovers all in succession. The trio finished with nine steals and four blocks.

Flagg is just proposterous on defense. He just appears in the right place — and that’s a skill, mind you. After a bad game against the Thunder, where he got caught flat-footed often and gave up baskets he usually doesn’t, he roamed the defensive end of the floor with great presence against the Rockets, treating fans to multiple examples of his next-level anticipation. He’s just good at this.

Washington showed himself last year to be a strong and willing defender, and when paired with Davis and Flagg, his best abilities are amplified. He has trust that his teammates will have his back and help if he gets beat. It’s also a joy to watch him finish in transition.

Davis is a former all-multiverse defender. He can’t guard in space anymore, but that is what it is. His paint defense and rim protection remain fantastic. Great anticipation and reputation force opposing offensive players to overthink regular plays.

Downhill Davis makes all the difference​

Compared to Friday night’s massive disappointment (2 points, 1-of-9 shooting), Davis lived in the paint and at the rim on Saturday. When he’s forceful on offense, it changes the effectiveness of everything the Mavericks want to do on that end of the floor. His aggressiveness begets more aggressiveness. It’s really quite something to behold when he goes at the rim. Davis might not have the hops of a 19-year-old Flagg (or the Davis of yesteryear), but he’s still huge and athletic and hard to stop. Houston didn’t have a reasonable answer all game long without Alperen Sengun (illness) and Steven Adams (ankle).

He’s a natural five, and while I’d like to see the Mavericks healthy, at least we don’t have to pay lip service to him wanting to play power forward.

Protecting the ball​

During these last give games where the Mavericks are 4-1, they are turning the ball over just 11 times a game. That’s down in a massive way compared to early in the season where they were averaging north of 15 in every contest. Simply not giving it away gives Dallas an edge they didn’t have earlier on this year, and while it’s difficult to say if they can keep this kind of ball-security intact for the rest of the season, it’s been the defining factor in this stretch of games. That has led to the best basketball we’ve seen from this bunch this season.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...vis-cooper-flagg-ryan-nembhard-dallas-houston

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Roundtable: Favorite part of the season so far

This week’s question was direct: What’s been your favorite part of the season through the first 20 or so games?

Chris: Flagg’s development.

We’re not even a third of the way the season and he’s already shown he’s picking up on the differences of the NBA, particularly the physicality.

• First 10 games: 13.9 PPG, 6.6 REB, 3.0 AST
• Last 15 games: 18.3 PPG, 6.7 REB, 3.5 AST

Some of his improvement is also due to the end of the “point guard experiment.” The Mavericks are putting him at his natural position as a wing and he’s getting to his spots. I would like to see him take more shots, but it’s easy to forget his foremost talents are on the defensive side, which is what he was known for in his high school and college days.

But it can’t go without saying, that mid-range jumper around the free throw line is beautiful and not many wings have the strength or length to consistently challenge that shot.

He’s been working on his game and it shows. Once that 3-point shot starts falling, the league is in trouble.

Tyler: It’s the rookies. For everyone who got concerned about Flagg early in the season, I hope you’ve all calmed down and realized that he is simply a slow starter. It only happened at Montverde, and at Duke, and now here. He’s fine! And Ryan Nembhard, who I’m sure most of you are tired of hearing us say “I told you so” on. But hey, we told you so.

David: Number one is Nico Harrison getting fired. I know that is a bit of a lazy answer but it truly changed my entire outlook on the season. And Jason Kidd started playing better lineups after the firing! A close second is the emergence of Ryan Nembhard. I campaigned for him to start back in June and now to see him flourish in that role is very cool.

Bryan: Flagg, Christie and Nembhard. Cooper Flagg has been as advertised since moving back to forward full time. His confidence as an on-ball scorer in the clutch has grown and his comfort as an off-ball threat has as well. Max Christie exceeded my expectations for his season by the 5th game of the year as he’s been our most reliable knockdown shooter/POA defender until Klay’s recent return to form on offense. Ryan Nembhard, while a guy I was particularly stoked to add to this roster pre-draft, has truly been a revelation. He’s every bit the floor general he was billed as in college and a scorer willing to take what defenses give him in attempts to bottle up his higher profile teammates. Watching lineups featuring these three has been a joy that I hope to keep experiencing for years to come yet.

Brent: The best thing about this season is the drama. You can have so many justifiable opinions of this team. Want 1000 words on why the season should go the way of Tankathon? Easy? Want just as many on it how things are trending upward? Equally doable.

This fanbase is not accustomed to irrelevant basketball and the yearning to see how much hay can be made this year is understandable amid the brightest stretch of the season. Yet ask yourself this—is the pursuit of maximum upside this season and an early playoff exit worth 8-12 spots lower in the final controlled first-round draft pick of the decade for the Mavericks?

Michael: My favorite part so far has been the general vibe change of late. That encompasses a number of things, but namely Cooper Flagg’s rapid development and Ryan Nembhard’s emergence. The team was utterly dysfunctional at the start of the season with a bizarre lineup, curious players taking on primary roles, and Flagg not getting necessary touches.

Suddenly, Flagg is the go-to guy in the clutch and Nembhard is running the team well above what you would expect from a rookie two-way player. The fact this is translating into wins and the team looks to be genuinely pulling for each other is nicer still. The dysfunctional group of guys without a true point guard has given way to an actual team that seems to genuinely pull for each other’s success. Dare I say it, but the Mavs are fun for the first time in almost a year, largely because of a soon-to-be 19 year old and a two-way player who has become a starter on an NBA roster.

Of course, there is a give-and-take here. It’s never good to breed underachievement into a team with an overt tanking effort, but this team would certainly benefit greatly from a high draft pick this summer. The latter seemed to be a guaranteed over the first month of the season, but not it appears the Mavs will be good enough to be bad. With any luck, the Mavs can find the balance of remaining fun while still securing a high draft pick this year and possibly pulling off a trade for draft capital in the future. Until whatever plays out, actually plays out, it’s awesome to see Flagg growing by significant increments while the team once again elicits some emotion for the first time in a while.

Kirk: I’ve really enjoyed how hard the Mavericks have played this season. Josh started pointing it out last February, but I was in such a funk I didn’t care. But seeing how they compete night after night has been nice. I watch as many games as I can and I watch the whole game if I can. That means that a competitive basketball game makes it watchable. So for that I’m grateful.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/general/53557/roundtable-favorite-part-of-the-season-so-far