RSS Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping Mavericks vs. Nets

The Dallas Mavericks (15-25) welcomed the Brooklyn Nets (11-25) to Texas on Monday night. Both teams are struggling to the point that if you combined their win totals, it still wouldn’t be enough to claim first place in either conference. The Mavs at least came away with a 113-105 win.

Let’s get to the grades!

Jaden Hardy: C+​

14 PTS / 2 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN​

Hardy showed what he can be when he’s at his best. I long advocated for him to play off-ball coming off the bench, feeling he was not a natural point guard, but rather a microwave scorer. Tonight he started, but still microwave scored. His first half alone was 11 points in just over 13 minutes, on 4-for-9 shooting with 3-for-6 from deep. His shooting in the second half dropped a good bit, which almost further demonstrates that microwaves cook quickly and then turn off. Watching him go full sprint with Dwight Powell to both dive for a loose ball was a cool moment in the game.

Max Christie: C-​

10 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 34 MIN​

Christie may have suffered a bit by Hardy’s introduction to the starting lineup. He often reverted to an exclusive three-point shooter, but with sub-par results (1-for-8 from downtown). He got into the action a bit more later in the game, and played some solid on-ball defense at points. Extra credit for a very nice defensive play one-on-one against Nic Claxton, preventing a post-up and then grabbing the rebound off the miss.

Cooper Flagg: A​

27 PTS / 5 REB / 5 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN​

Flagg found his shot (10-for-17) after a rough shooting night last game. He drove and finished, hit shots (including a difficult one-legged mid-range where he most certainly was fouled but didn’t get the call), hit free throws and was the best player for Dallas for most of the game. He had a crucial steal with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and was rewarded with a monstrous dunk on the other end to put Dallas up by nine points at the time. He rolled his ankle to give us all a scare, but came back to the game looking no worse for wear. A few more rebounds would have been nice, but Flagg is now unquestionably the featured player on this team and he capitalized on that in a big way.

Naji Marshall: A​

22 PTS / 4 REB / 9 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 32 MIN​

Marshall didn’t look quite right in the early going. His trusty floaters were a little short and he botched a few rotations that led to Nets’ scores. In the second half, he turned it on in a big, big way, especially in the fourth quarter where he basically took over the game (scoring 12 points in the frame) before Flagg put on some finishing touches. His very nice assist total to lead all Mavs really elevated his grade, especially with only two turnovers. Great game after a slow start. The Mavs easily could have lost without his effort tonight.

Dwight Powell: B+​

5 PTS / 10 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 35 MIN​

Powell was Powell. He brought the same energy he brings every game since the moment he got to Dallas. This guy is a pro’s pro and really deserves his flowers as one of the most “stay ready” players you will find. He led the team with 10 rebounds against a Nets team that features plenty of height. He also took his requisite shot to the face when he head-butted Nic Claxton by accident, so it was a complete game indeed.

Ryan Nembhard: B+​

9 PTS / 1 REB / 8 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN​

Nembhard was solid and probably should have spelled Hardy a touch more when the latter went cold. Eventually their minutes played evened out and although his numbers didn’t leap off the page, he did a nice job managing the offense and hitting a few timely shots to finish 4-for-8 overall with an 8:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Moussa Cisse: C+​

2 PTS / 6 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 12 MIN​

Cisse was grabbing a rebound per minute for a five-minute stretch, but also committed three fouls in that same span, which sent him to the bench for a good long time before he was needed again in the third quarter to match Brooklyn’s size (Christie could cover the opposing center only so often). Solid rebounding but not a whole lot else. He shows potential and hopefully will refine his game in the absence of so many other bigs on the injured list.

Klay Thompson: A-​

18 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 27 MIN​

It’s not clear to me if Thompson is turning it on because he wants to get traded to a contender, or what. You would think with all the injuries on the team, Thompson would have a harder time getting his looks, but he did fantastic tonight, highlighted by 6-for-9 shooting from deep. He hit a huge three-pointer to stymie a Nets’ run in the third quarter after Flagg went to the bench with a rolled ankle. Then did it again in the fourth quarter to give Dallas a bit of breathing room. Inside the arc left something to be desired, but he had a solid game and contributed to the win in a meaningful way.

Final Thoughts​

These teams are not juggernauts on their way to making deep postseason runs, but they at least made for an entertaining game. Marshall showed what he can do when he is featured, and seeing Flagg play without having to defer to another star was nice and should hopefully help his development in a big way.

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...-105-player-grades-cooper-flagg-anthony-davis

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 3 numbers from the Mavericks win against the Nets

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 Monday night in Dallas, snapping a two-game losing streak and bouncing back from one of their more dispiriting efforts of the season Saturday night against Chicago.

Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 28 points, while Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. led all scorers with 29 points. Dallas took an early 5-4 lead in the first quarter and the Nets never had the lead for the rest of the game, in a reversal from Saturday where the Mavericks trailed throughout against the Bulls.

This was a much more lively and energetic game. The Mavericks scored well in transition, hustled on defense, and made a ton of shots. It doesn’t mean that much, the Nets are not good, but it was important stabilizer after the Mavericks had two recent disappointing losses.

Here are the three numbers were noticed.

2,800: Career 3-pointers for Klay Thompson​

With 8:50 left in the fourth quarter, Thompson drilled a three giving him 2,800 for his career. He’s the fifth player in NBA history to reach that mark, and Thompson now is five more made threes away from passing Damian Lillard for fourth place on the all-time list.

It was a special night for Thompson overall — he had 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three, and while Flagg and Naji Marshall were more dominant scorers, you could argue Thompson’s floor gravity was the MVP of the night. Dallas made 15 three pointers and still scored a healthy 44 points in the paint, as the Nets could not keep up with Thompson’s off-ball movement.

The overall numbers don’t reflect this, but the eye-test is saying Thompson’s spacing and shooting is still hugely vital for this Mavericks team. Dallas is top-1o in paint points per game, drivers per game, and field goal percentage on drives. They’re doing this despite being one of the worst three point shooting teams in the league. How are they still getting to the basket and scoring at the rim? Thompson’s gravity makes a big difference.

Multiple times in this game Thompson drew the attention of two Nets defenders, typically coming off a screen from the wing or a pin down to pop out from the top of the key. That left Brooklyn’s backline vulnerable and if the Mavericks didn’t score in the paint, they kept the Nets in rotation and found quality three point looks. Dallas was 15-of-34 from three, one of their best marks of the season.

14: Combined rebounds, assists, blocks, steals for Cooper Flagg​

Against the Bulls on Sunday, Flagg looked a little shell-shocked and despondent. It led to one of his worst games of the season, with little to show for his anemic activity left. Good news: Flagg was back to his high-motor self, humming across the court both on offense and defense.

While his team-high 27 points will get the headlines, his secondary stats told the story of a guy bouncing back with the right level of disposition. Flagg only had five combined rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals against the Bulls. He almost tripled that number against the Nets.

Flagg was everywhere. He was a blur in transition and got himself about four to six free points simply because he was playing harder than anyone else on the floor. There was a two-handed transition dunk in the second half where when Max Christie made the pass ahead, the TV broadcast did not have Flagg in the frame and I genuinely wondered who the hell Christie was throwing the ball too, since no way any Maverick got down the floor that fast after the live-ball turnover. Turns out Flagg did get down the floor and he jammed it. When Flagg is playing with this unrivaled energy, the Mavericks look much better.

10: Rebounds for Dwight Powell​

Shoutout to the longest tenured Maverick Dwight Powell for filling in with the Mavericks front court shorthanded and putting in an admirable performance. Powell played a game-high 35 minutes and had a team-high 10 rebounds, to go along with three assists and five points.

With all of the Mavericks main centers injured, Powell filled in as a spot-starter and played well. He might be the best screener on the team, and it doesn’t feel like a coincidence that Thompson seems to shoot better when he shares the court with Powell.

In a bit of a mud fight game like this, with two bad teams squaring off, Powell’s veteran intangibles are unmatched. It was fun to see him do stuff, and I’m glad his effort level was rewarded with a win.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...mbers-from-the-mavericks-win-against-the-nets

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Anthony Davis to undergo hand surgery, per reports

The Anthony Davis experiment in Dallas has reached its most familiar endpoint. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Davis is likely to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, sidelining him for several months and effectively ending his season with the Mavericks. Given both the medical prognosis and the organization’s current direction, this development does not merely pause the Davis era; it all but ends it.

More importantly, Shams followed that report with a second, equally revealing update: despite the impending surgery, the Mavericks have reopened trade discussions with multiple interested teams. The implication is clear. Dallas no longer views Davis as a foundational piece, but rather as a movable asset whose value must be recaptured before the situation deteriorates further. If moved to a playoff contender, Davis’ recovery timeline could allow him to return during the postseason, shifting both the medical and financial risk onto another franchise. Now, there is a good chance this is all smoke from Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who is known for working with Shams to leak news about his clients before Shams arrived at ESPN. But if there is genuine interest in Davis, the Mavericks absolutely need to look into it.

The situation has only grown more convoluted in the hours since Charania’s report. Shortly after ESPN’s update circulated, Anthony Davis himself took to social media, posting, “Y’all better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!” in apparent response to reports that his season is effectively over and that trade talks are ongoing. Around the same time, Marc Stein reported that there remains “some optimism in Dallas” that Davis could return at some point in March, even if surgery on his left hand is required.

That contradiction perfectly encapsulates the Anthony Davis dilemma. On one hand, league reporting suggests a months-long absence and an organization preparing for life without him. On the other hand, there is familiar optimism, timelines, projections, and framing that have accompanied nearly every Davis injury over the last several years. The gap between what is hoped for and what actually materializes has consistently defined his availability, and Dallas has already lived on the wrong side of that divide.

Even if Davis were to beat the timeline and return late in the season, it would not meaningfully alter the Mavericks’ trajectory. A March return would leave little runway for conditioning, rhythm, or reintegration into a roster already struggling for continuity. More importantly, it would not solve the franchise’s larger issue: the Mavericks are not a playoff-caliber team built around Anthony Davis, even when he is on the floor.

This moment did not arrive out of nowhere. The path to Davis’ season-ending surgery can be traced directly to the injury he suffered Thursday night against Utah. This game encapsulated the entire Anthony Davis experience in Dallas. Davis finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 20 shot attempts, a line that appears productive until you examine the context. With the game still within reach late, Davis injured his left hand while defending Lauri Markkanen, who had consistently overwhelmed him throughout the night and finished with 33 points.

The play itself was routine. Markkanen backed Davis down with a legal shoulder bump that caught Davis’ wrist. What followed was more damaging than the contact itself. Davis spent the next two possessions standing on the baseline clutching his hand, effectively leaving the Mavericks to defend four-on-five at a critical juncture. Moments later, he checked himself out and headed to the locker room, swinging the game and punctuating yet another night where availability proved more impactful than production.

Even before the injury, Davis’ performance had ongoing concerns. His scoring came primarily through complex, contested attempts, with minimal rim pressure and little defensive authority. He repeatedly settled for tough shots, struggled to impose himself physically, and was visibly disengaged in transition defense. Davis simply has not been bringing the effort required to reach baseline production, which was inefficient, unsustainable, and ultimately detrimental to winning basketball.

This has been a constant throughout the season. Davis occupies roughly 35 percent of the salary cap and is expected to function as a first or second option once Kyrie Irving returns. He is paid to be an elite, top-tier, two-way force capable of anchoring both ends of the floor. Instead, the Mavericks have received inconsistent defense, inefficient scoring, and a nightly sense that any moment could end his availability altogether. That concern has now materialized in the form of a hand injury severe enough to require surgery and end his season.

The lower-body issues that plagued Davis earlier in the year, with hamstring and adductor problems that have limited his availability and disrupted lineup continuity, have already placed him on unstable footing. The hand injury is not an isolated setback; it is the culmination. What began as short-term frustration has escalated into a definitive breaking point, reinforcing the central problem that has defined the Davis tenure in Dallas: there was always no margin for error.

His contract magnifies that reality. Davis is in the first year of a three-year, $175.4 million extension that runs through the 2027–28 season and includes a $62.8 million player option. He will turn 33 in March, and his deal consumes approximately 35 percent of the salary cap on a roster already pressed up against the second apron. The Mavericks are not just financially constrained, they are structurally locked in.

The second apron strips away nearly every way for the front office to upgrade its roster. Dallas cannot aggregate salaries in trades, cannot meaningfully replace lost production through free agency, and cannot maintain flexibility for contingency plans. When Davis is unavailable, the Mavericks are not simply missing a star; they are exposed as a roster built on an assumption that has repeatedly failed. But even when Davis is on the floor, that assumption has proven shaky at best. Dallas is paying for a dominant, stabilizing force capable of carrying a roster through difficult stretches. What it has received instead is an inconsistent offensive hub, a declining defensive impact, and a player whose presence no longer elevates the team’s ceiling. The center position does not merely collapse in his absence; it fails to drive winning even when he is present meaningfully.

This is the inherent danger of a top-heavy cap structure, particularly when the most expensive player also carries the most significant durability risk. The gamble only works if the cornerstone is reliably available. Davis has not been that player, and the current injury removes any remaining illusion that he will suddenly become one.

The organizational context makes the decision even clearer. Dallas is increasingly oriented around Cooper Flagg as its long-term pillar. Flagg’s rookie-scale contract provides rare cap relief in an otherwise inflexible financial landscape, and his developmental timeline does not align with a high-usage, high-cost center entering his mid-30s. Every additional season spent waiting for Davis to stabilize is a wasted opportunity in a league that punishes hesitation.

Shams’s reporting confirms that the Mavericks understand this reality. The fact that trade talks are continuing despite the looming surgery signals urgency, not optimism. Dallas is no longer trying to salvage the Anthony Davis experiment; it is trying to exit it. If another team believes Davis can return during a playoff run and can justify the long-term risk, the Mavericks should capitalize while that belief persists.

The Anthony Davis experiment did not fail solely because of bad luck or injuries. It failed because the version of Davis Dallas that is being paid for no longer exists. His offensive efficiency has become erratic, his defensive dominance has waned, and his ability to consistently impose himself on games has diminished. Even during his healthiest stretches, the Mavericks have not looked like a playoff-caliber team built around him. In a Western Conference defined by depth, versatility, and star-driven consistency, a roster centered on Anthony Davis, even at full strength, is not good enough. With his season effectively over and the Mavericks’ direction increasingly defined, trading Davis is no longer a controversial stance. It is the only responsible path forward.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...s/54681/mavs-news-anthony-davis-injury-update

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets Game of the Week: Can the Mavericks topple the Zombie Nuggets?

The Dallas Mavericks are set to face off against the Denver Nuggets on National TV, which means it’s time to dive into our MMBets Game of the Week. The Mavericks are fresh off of a clutch win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are on the second leg of a road back-to-back, having won in New Orleans on Tuesday. Bear in mind, Denver still does not have Nikola Jokic back after the knee injury and will likely rest some guys on the back end of the back-to-back. What does that mean we are in store for tonight?

Before we dive into the matchup, let’s look at last week’s results.

Last week’s results​

Dallas 100, Sacramento 98

Tyler: 3-1 (+$201)

David: 2-2 (-$18)

Well, would you look at that? Tyler finally put together a winning week for the first time in ages. The real question is: Was this a sign of things to come? Or was this simply a blind squirrel finding a nut?

Year to date​

David: 22-17 (+$647)

Tyler: 14-25 (-$1,035)

Overall: 36-42 (-$388)

Progress was made to start off 2026, but there is more work to be done in order to get this thing back in the black. Let’s go to work.

Game intangibles​

Denver Nuggets (27-13) at Dallas Mavericks (15-25)

Tipoff: It’s a late one, as this will tip shortly after 8:30p CT from the American Airlines Center

How to watch: ESPN has a national telecast of this one, but KFAA Channel 29 and Mavs TV will be showing the game as well.

Game odds as of 11:00a​

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!​

Spread: Dallas -1.5

Over/Under: 224.5

Moneyline: Denver is +102 to pull the (very small) upset

David’s picks​

• Nuggets ML (-104)

• Cooper Flagg over 23.5 points (-110)

• Aaron Gordon over 28.5 points + rebounds + assists (-114)

• Jamal Murray under 8.5 assists (+102)

Tyler’s picks​

• Jalen Pickett to score 10+ points (-130)

• Nuggets +1.5 (-112)

• Over 224.5 points (-114)

• Tim Hardaway Jr. to make 4+ three pointers (+186)

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...anduel-betting-preview-predictions-january-14

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz Game Preview: 3 things to watch as Dallas faces Utah

Dallas and Utah are two teams having very similar seasons, and on Thursday, they’ll face off as two teams playing the second game of a back-to-back. They’ve played twice already so far this season, and Utah has been victorious in both games. This will be the first game where Dallas will play host, but it seems like they may have to do so without star rookie Cooper Flagg, who left Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets with a sprained ankle.

Rock fight​

The Jazz, already without Walker Kessler, may also be missing Lauri Markkanen, who didn’t play in his team’s loss against the Bulls Wednesday due to illness. So, to recap, that’s a Dallas team without Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and likely Cooper Flagg, versus a Jazz team missing Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. Dallas will at least have the benefit of playing at home, where they’ve managed to play .500 ball. It’s the road where this team has really seemed to fall apart.

Expect the unexpected​

This game may get ugly. Very ugly. Unspeakably hideous basketball. Sure. But there’s always a chance something crazy might happen. It’s like when a team switches coaches mid-way through the season. Even if they’ve been playing like trash all year, they always seem to get that new coach bump. Running plays opponents aren’t expecting. Lineups and rotations that have never seen the floor together before. Well, we might see some of that from both sides.

Against the Bulls, a bench player averaging 10 points a game, exploded for 42! If there’s a pet player or a project you’ve been wanting to watch get some burn, this is the game to tune in for. Jaden Hardy fans, Miles Kelly acolytes, Moussa Cisse believers, now is your time!

Eyes on the balls​

NBA insider Marc Stein has recently reported that Dallas’ (legally unstatable) goal for this season is “getting the highest possible pick in the June draft.” A good plan, as this is the last of their own picks in their possession until 2031. Utah, though, is a fellow traveler, and has even higher stakes for their pick this season. It is a protected pick, one-through-eight. Any higher than eight, and they’ll have to send it to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Just half a game separates these two in the unspoken standings. We’ll see who’se more serious about maximizing ping pong over basketball. It’s a Marty Supreme-off.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla.../54747/3-things-to-watch-as-dallas-faces-utah

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets — The Utah Jazz face the Dallas Mavericks

Two teams. One goal. Absolutely no shame. The Dallas Mavericks (15–26) host the Utah Jazz (14–26) tonight in a matchup that feels more like a draft lottery cage match than a basketball game. Both are limping into the second leg of a back-to-back, both are missing cornerstone players, and both know exactly where their June priorities lie — at the bottom of the standings.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

Fixture:
Utah Jazz (14–26, 5–14 Away)
@ Dallas Mavericks (15–26, 11–11 Home)
American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
7:30 PM CST, Jan 15, 2026
KFAA-TV / NBA App

DraftKings Snapshot (as of 3:53 PM CST)
Spread: DAL -3.5 (–110) | UTA +3.5 (–110)
Total: 236.5 (O –115 / U –105)
Moneyline: DAL –166 | UTA +140

Game Side Lean: Jazz +3.5

There’s a rule in Tank Wars: take the team less competent at hiding their intentions. The Mavericks are without Kyrie, without AD, and likely without Cooper Flagg — the last flicker of this roster’s dignity. Utah’s not exactly healthy either (no Kessler, probably no Lauri), but they’ve at least covered the last two matchups in this series, including an overtime blitzkrieg back in December.

Dallas is coming off a back-to-back against Denver and could absolutely fart through the fourth quarter again. If Lauri suits up, Jazz ML is a live look. But even without him? These are the games Brice Sensabaugh randomly drops 43. This is chaos candy. Don’t ask it to make sense — just eat it and hope it doesn’t kill you.

Total Lean: Under 236.5

The line opened at 237.5 and has quietly drifted downward. Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, missing major creators. Without Flagg, the Mavs offense reverts to Hardy dribble clinics and Nembhard mid-post purgatory. Utah’s best scorer might be their G League call-up. Even with the defensive absences, the math on volume is ugly. Think more Moussa Cisse verticality contest than shootout.

Player Props We Like

Naji Marshall Over 19.5 Points (–119)

Marshall’s been a quietly steady presence for Dallas all season — tough on the catch, fearless off the drive, and just unpredictable enough to pop for 20 when the rotation thins. With Flagg likely out and the Mavericks deep in next-man-up territory, his path to volume is clean. He just dropped 24 on Denver with minimal fanfare, and Utah’s short-handed defense offers similar cracks to exploit. Nothing fluky about it — just a savvy prop in a weird game.

Kyle Filipowski Over 11.5 Points (–121)

With no Lauri and a thin Dallas front court, Kyle should have room to operate around the basket and in the mid range.

Summary:

Dallas is favored by inertia and homecourt, but the roster says otherwise. Utah is worse at basketball, but better at pretending to try. If you trust the Mavs to subtly tank without making it obvious — bless your optimism. We’ll ride the Jazz +3.5 and sweat out an under that feels a lot more 109–105 than 125–122.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...mbets-the-utah-jazz-face-the-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping Mavericks vs. Jazz

The last time the Dallas Mavericks took on the Utah Jazz, they lost both the game and Anthony Davis. Thursday night was a different story, as Dallas took a 144-122 win.

Let’s get to the grades!

Brandon Williams: A-​

18 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 25 MIN​

Williams was a flamethrower along with a few of his teammates. He did a little bit of everything, even blocking a shot, but did turn the ball over more than you’d like to see. Solid game and an excellent shooting night.

Jaden Hardy: B-​

19 PTS / 1 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN​

Hardy wasn’t able to find his shot, especially from deep. Compounding the issue is that he didn’t do much else to make up for his lack of offensive punch. He had a few dimes and hit his free throws, but fouled too often and wasn’t able to feast like some of his teammates. He came on a bit in the fourth when the game was long past over.

Caleb Martin: A+​

14 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN​

Coming off a great outing Wednesday night, Martin got the starting nod in this one. It was nice to see him continue his red-hot shooting (6-for-8), while demonstrating the defensive prowess he was brought here for in what has become an ill-fated trade. Martin looks healthier and it’s nice to see him perform at this level on both sides of the ball, while also getting teammates involved. He has now put together his two best games as a Mav, by far.

Naji Marshall: A​

22 PTS / 6 REB / 4 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN​

Marshall joined Martin in the Thieves Guild with a high steal total to go along with his 20-plus points. He didn’t shoot quite as well as Martin, but he was highly efficient in his own right (9-for-15), on a higher number of shots. He took care of the ball, didn’t foul much and showed he can put on a show when he’s given the chance.

Dwight Powell: B+​

6 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 25 MIN​

I’m nudging Powell up a touch on the merits of his steals and blocks totals. He had himself a solid night other than a couple of bungled turnovers, even if his stat line doesn’t blow you away.

Ryan Nembhard: B-​

8 PTS / 4 REB / 10 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN​

Nembhard was probably the toughest to grade tonight. He didn’t have a good shooting night and therefore didn’t score much, but his double-figure assists were impressive, especially with so few turnovers. Good game and nice work orchestrating when his shot wasn’t falling.

Moussa Cisse: A+​

10 PTS / 13 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 3 BLK – 23 MIN​

Cisse does not have a well-established baseline from which to formulate a grade. Fortunately, he made it easy with a relatively monstrous game. For a guy who shuffles between the NBA and G League and who may go long stretches without any floor time, he had himself a night for a team that is devoid of size.

Klay Thompson: A+​

26 PTS / 1 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 23 MIN​

Any time Thompson drops five or more threes in a game, Dallas is likely to have a good night. He scored more points than minutes played, dished a nice assist total, and is now fourth all time in three-pointers made, moving past Damian Lillard on Thursday night.

Final thoughts​

The lineups featured in this game on both sides were bizarre. Injuries and rest were the call of the day and it resulted in a lot of floor time for players we don’t normally see. As easy as it is to write off the smashing victory as a fluke against and injured team, Dallas was as worse for wear as Utah and still annihilated the Jazz despite not having much continuity among their available players.

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-jazz-recap-mavs-win-144-122-klay-thompson

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Recap: 3 Numbers From Mavericks 144-122 evisceration of Jazz

The Mavericks absolutely demolished the Jazz, 144-122, in a game that was never close. It was a team effort from the injury-riddled Mavericks, as seven players finished in double digits, including 26 from Klay Thompson, 22 from Naji Marshall, 19 from Jaden Hardy, and 18 from Brandon Williams. The Jazz lost behind a 27-point night from Brice Senseabaugh.

Dallas showed real offensive juice early behind Klay Thompson’s 10 first-quarter points, using Ryan Nembhard’s playmaking to generate clean looks and jump out in front before the shot profile tilted heavily toward pull-up threes. The Mavericks briefly steadied themselves with a 7–0 run late in the first and early second, sparked by Naji Marshall’s downhill attacks, including a transition finish and a timely three that pushed him into double figures before halftime. Defensively, Dallas created opportunities with steals from Thompson and Marshall, but repeatedly failed to cash in, as missed threes and missed free throws stalled momentum before it could snowball. By the break, the Mavericks’ first half told a familiar story: flashes of ball movement, rim pressure, and defensive activity, undone by inefficient shooting stretches and an inability to capitalize on the runs they created.

Any competitive tension evaporated after halftime as Dallas turned the second half into a runaway, steadily stacking points possession after possession while Utah tried to survive. The Mavericks opened the fourth by pushing the lead past 110, with Klay Thompson’s third three, Mike Kelly and Jaden Hardy drilling pull-ups, and Ryan Nembhard racking up assists as the ball moved freely against a broken Jazz defense. From there, the game devolved into extended garbage time, with Dallas continuing to score through cuts, transition threes, and putbacks, while Utah’s baskets came sporadically and without any momentum attached. By the time the score climbed into the 140s, the only remaining question was how wide the final margin would be, not who was winning.

65: Mavs bench points​

The Mavericks trailed 65 bench points tonight, their most this season, including 26 points from Klay Thompson, 12 from new signee Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and 10 from Moussa Cisse. That bench production wasn’t about rescuing Dallas, it set the tone from the opening minutes. Klay’s first-half scoring burst immediately separated the game. At the same time, Robinson-Earl and Cisse consistently cashed in on interior touches, offensive rebounds, and cleanup plays that showed up repeatedly in the play-by-play. With the lead already established, the bench kept the pressure on, stretching margins quarter by quarter and turning the night into a blowout rather than allowing Utah any path back into the game.

6: Klay Thompson 3-pointers​

Klay Thompson was the engine for the Mavericks tonight, providing the early spark that blew the doors open in the first half. Klay knocked down six threes and finished with 26 points, but the tone was set immediately, as he passed Damian Lillard for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time three-point makes list with a first-quarter triple, turning a routine early possession into a historic moment. More importantly, his early shot-making warped the game from the opening quarter. Every Jazz miss was met with another Klay pull-up, a trail three, or a relocation bomb that turned a competitive opening into a runaway. Utah was forced to hug him off the ball and send extra attention on handoffs, which opened up driving lanes and cleanup opportunities for Dallas’ bigs and bench units that repeatedly showed up in the play-by-play.

144: Mavericks points​

The Mavericks cracked 140 points for the first time this season, and it was the result of sustained efficiency rather than pace or late-game inflation. Dallas shot 56.7% from the field and 40% from three, consistently turning advantages into clean looks as the offense flowed from the opening quarter onward. The balance stood out just as much as the efficiency, with seven players finishing in double figures and six different Mavericks knocking down at least two threes, a reflection of ball movement and spacing that never allowed Utah to load up on one option. When that many players are scoring, and the shots are falling at that rate, the outcome becomes inevitable long before the final minutes.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...cap-3-numbers-from-mavericks-144-122-win-jazz

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

NBA Power Rankings Watch: the Mavericks need to reset the vision

With mounting injuries, contradicting sourced reporting, and a will-they-won’t-they soap opera of trade rumors involving Anthony Davis, very little is going right for the Dallas Mavericks. The league’s trade deadline needs to get here asap so fans can accept whatever reality is next, and the team needs to refocus their vision. Part of that is accepting reality and positioning themselves as best they can for this summer’s NBA Draft.

All that considered, there are still some bright moments to hold to in these games. Cooper Flagg continues to flash brilliance. He is now nursing an ankle injury, but his composure and ability remains on display most nights. Players like Naji Marshall, mentioned below in this week’s Power Rankings Watch, has stepped up his game — perhaps just in time for said deadline. And Klay Thompson just moved himself into fourth all time in three-pointers. With so much in limbo it’s important to celebrate those mini victories.

ESPN​

Rank: 24​

Last week: 23​

Forward Naji Marshall has been one of the bright spots of a difficult season in Dallas. He’s averaging career bests of 13.6 points and 54% shooting, and his production has increased to 16.9 points on 58.6% shooting in his 17 starts. He has been especially productive attacking off the dribble, shooting 60.7% off of drives. According to NBA Advanced Stats, only Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have a higher field goal percentage among the players who rank in the top 50 in points off of drives. — MacMahon

The Athletic​

Rank: 24 (Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear)​

Last week: 23​

Preseason win total: 41.5
On pace to win: 29

Vegas and the national broadcasters were on NicoVision when it came to projecting this Mavericks team. Some even thought Kyrie Irving would be back by now. Alas, here the Mavericks are, with their injury-prone big men out of commission, top free-agent acquisition D’Angelo Russell playing zero 20-minute games since Thanksgiving and Cooper Flagg splitting awesome games with forgettable outings.

NBA​

Rank: 25​

Last week: 25​

• At this point, Davis has played in just 29 of a possible 74 games since he was acquired (along with Max Christie) for Luka Dončić. This season, the Mavs are 10-10 with Davis in uniform, but they’ve been outscored by 4.6 points per 100 possessions in his 626 minutes on the floor.
• The Mavs were outscored by 28 points (54-26) in the restricted area in Chicago on Saturday, falling to 4-15 without Davis. They’ve scored just 106.7 points per 100 possessions over those 19 games, only slightly better (107.5 scored per 100) in Cooper Flagg’s 844 total minutes on the floor without Davis.
• The offense was ugly on both ends of the floor in Sacramento on Tuesday, but the Mavs got the win with two go-ahead buckets in the final minute. Flagg had the first (a tough, lefty finish off the glass) and assisted on the other (a Brandon Williams 3), and he’s now 4-for-6 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime. Those four buckets are tied for fourth league-wide.

Coming up: With their loss in Utah on Thursday, the Mavs are 0-6 (one of three winless teams) in rest-advantage games. They’ll have two more – vs. Brooklyn and Denver – as they play a four-game homestand this week.

Bleacher Report​

Rank: 26​

Last week: 25​

The Dallas Mavericks pummeled the Utah Jazz on Thursday, but it’s tough to find big takeaways from a game without Cooper Flagg and Lauri Markkanen.

Dallas lost to Utah just one week earlier, is 4-7 in its last 11 and recently got some bad news on Anthony Davis. He may not need surgery on his injured hand, but he’s going to be out for several weeks and could still be traded before the deadline.

With Flagg now nursing his own ankle injury, all signs are pointing to the Mavericks more aggressively chasing improved lottery odds down the stretch.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...s-espn-athletic-bleacher-report-anthony-davis

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Jazz Preview and Injury Update: One last time, with feeling

The Dallas Mavericks (16-26) play the second night of a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz (14-27) on Saturday afternoon in the final game of a four game homestand. These two teams each faced one another on Thursday in the Seats for Heroes night, and Dallas won by many, many points. Perhaps Utah will have an ounce of shame and actually play some of their players instead of benching guys luke Jusif Nurkic.

Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
• WHAT: A midseason tankfest
• WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
• HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

The injury report for the Dallas Mavericks grows even longer than the one from Thursday. The core four are out (Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, and Dante Exum), but D’Angelo Russell was added to the report as out just recently due to illness and PJ Washington is missing the game due to personal reasons.. Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford are each listed as doubtful due to ankle sprains they suffered during the Denver Nuggets game. Thats EIGHT Mavericks. Max Christie is going to suit up, though.

The Jazz won’t have Walker Kessler, who is missing the whole season due to shoulder surgery. Lauri Markkonen is out due to an illness and Georges Niang will miss the game due to a foot injury.

The Jazz openly tanked the Thursday game, sitting playable guys who got “Did not play – Coach’s decision”. I expect a fine from them at some point, particularly if they do it again today. Dallas isn’t tanking, they are simply hurt and also stink.

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Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

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

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping Mavericks vs. Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks have seen a lot of the Utah Jazz over the past month, with their most recent faceoff just two days ago. Dallas repeated their success from Thursday night with a 138-120 win Saturday.

Let’s get to the grades!

Brandon Williams: A​

22 PTS / 4 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN​

Williams had a very nice game on both sides of the ball. He scored on efficient shooting (8-for-13), played solid defense and made some nice passes. His assist-to-turnover ratio (5:2) wasn’t mind blowing, but there isn’t much to complain about in respect of his overall performance.

Max Christie: A​

22 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 26 MIN​

Christie returned to action looking as though he didn’t miss a beat. He had himself a sound night in all respects, shooting well in his return (7-for-13). He took care of the ball and played sound defense without racking up fouls. Highlight play: cutting off a passing lane for a steal he took the other way for a layup in the second quarter.

Caleb Martin: C+​

3 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN​

Martin’s near-flawless shooting was absent Saturday night, though he grabbed a few boards and dished some dimes. He didn’t hurt the Mavs, but also didn’t do a whole lot to favorably impact the game. Highlight play: on the opening tip Martin moved as though clairvoyant, getting to a spot before the jump ball was even touched, perfectly positioning himself to gain possession. It was a small thing, but pretty cool to see.

Naji Marshall: B+​

16 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN​

Marshall had a hot hand and did a bit of everything, but his grade takes a hit for the high turnover (3) and high foul (4) totals.

Dwight Powell: A-​

10 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN​

Powell was quietly Powell, grabbing boards, hitting his limited shot opportunities, and setting solid screens — one of which got him free throws when Keyonte George committed a flagrant foul by running him over and pushing him to the ground. His steal total gives his grade a boost beyond his other contributions.

Jaden Hardy: C+​

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

Hardy can be streaky for sure, and on Saturday his shot could have been better (5-for-13). He did little else and his plus/minus was in the negative for most of the night. Still, he did what you’d want him to do — drop double-figure points in limited minutes.

Moussa Cisse: B-​

9 PTS / 10 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN​

Cisse was solid, though some of his stats came in garbage time. He also had the worst plus/minus on the team (-minus-17).

Klay Thompson: A​

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

Thompson’s first half alone had him in the “A” range: 7-for-10 from the floor, 6-for-9 from deep, 3-for-3 from the free throw line, 23 points. He even dished two assists around his prolific shooting. He came back down to earth in the second half, but very few minutes played was a factor in that.

Final thoughts​

If you’re on board with Team Tank, you might be a bit chapped to see Utah doing it better than Dallas by sitting players somewhat arbitrarily in both this, and the game Thursday night. Utah is just behind Dallas in the Western Conference standings, so the losses for them are wins from a certain perspective.

I’m not a big fan of intentionally losing, but I would be lying to say a better pick this summer isn’t highly appealing. With the win, Dallas and Utah now have two wins apiece in the season series, but there is a long way to go before game 82 decides the final standings. For now, Dallas continues to look engaged with two-way players and others that don’t get a lot of burn showing up with maximum effort.

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...54873/mavericks-vs-jazz-138-120-klay-thompson

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 3 numbers from the Mavericks 138-120 win against the Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks once again humiliated the Utah Jazz, this time by the score of 138-120. This is coming after Dallas trounced Utah on Thursday night, and the Maverick have done this all with a seriously constrained and short-handed roster.

Klay Thompson had another heather, the Mavericks made a bunch of threes, and the Jazz once again didn’t seem to care there was a basketball game being played. Dallas led wire-to-wire and mostly by double-digits.

Saturday’s game was the third time in nine days the Mavs and Jazz faced one another. This fourth and final meeting of the season did not feature Cooper Flagg, who was sitting out his second consecutive game with a left ankle sprain. Despite that, the Mavs held off the Jazz in a win that left the season series split 2-2.

For the third consecutive season, the Utah Jazz are making it increasingly obvious they are tanking. Jusuf Nurkic missed his third consecutive game to rest, Lauri Markkanen missed his second consecutive game due to illness, and the Jazz have a host of players who have been DNP’d in recent games. Meanwhile, a plethora of Mavericks rotation players were out including P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell. Despite being shorthanded, the Mavs blew past the Jazz (again). Here are three key numbers from the weekend win.

3: Mavericks with 20-plus points​

For the first time this season, the Mavericks had three players score 20-plus points: Klay Thompson (23) Brandon Williams (22), and Max Christie (22). Jaden Hardy also added 12 points off the bench, Ryan Nembhard with seven, and Miles Kelly with eight. Dallas’s quickness in the backcourt gave Utah fits all afternoon. The dribble penetration left Jazz guards scrambling on the perimeter, seemingly with no answers. Scoring wasn’t the only story, as the Mavs were distributing the ball well, notching 35 assists, tying their season high of 35 in Denver on December 1.

Dallas took care of the ball too, having only 11 turnovers. Utah had 15 turnovers, leading to 30 Maverick fast break points. When Dallas wins the turnover battle, they typically win and proved it tonight. A 3:1 ratio of assists to turnovers is a recipe for success.

6: Made 3-pointers for Klay Thompson​

After making 19 threes on Thursday night against Utah, the Mavs had a curtain call and hit 18 on Saturday afternoon. Dallas shot 18-41 from three, 44%. Klay Thompson led the charge with six, all of them in the first half, going 6-of-11 from distance. There’s a reason he’s fourth on the all-time three pointers made list, behind only Stephen Curry, Ray Allen, and James Harden. The Klay Thompson arc of being continually better from three as a season progresses is a real thing. This time of year, as soon as the ball touches his hands, it’s going up – and probably going in. Thompson also became the 109th player in NBA history to score 17,000 points.

Three-point shooting has been the Achilles heel of the Mavericks, as they’ve sat in the bottom fourth of teams all season long in three-point efficiency, but you couldn’t tell against Utah. The Jazz are 30th in the NBA in defense and letting these Mavericks catch fire two games in a row from three probably isn’t a fluke. The Mavs were shooting into an ocean right out of the gate, going 7-of-12 from three in the first quarter. Dallas led 42-29 after the first quarter and never let off the gas. They scored at least 70 points by halftime for the second game in a row, which was the catalyst enroute to a 138-120 win.

16: Naji Marshall points​

There are only a few certainties in life: death, taxes, and Naji Marshall hitting a paint floater. The nickname “the knife” is fitting since this man can do it all. After putting up 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in Thursday’s game against Utah, he followed up with 16 points, six assists (team high) and five rebounds.

It’s been reported that the Mavericks prefer not to trade Naji Marshall and it’s easy to see why. In a season full of disappointment, Marshall has been a bright spot, averaging 14.0 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 54% from the floor. He’s also been the definition of durable in his time in Dallas, as he’s played in all of Dallas’s 43 games this season.

Marshall continues to stay steady amidst a wild season. His veteran leadership and competitive nature have kept the Mavs ship from completely sinking (for now).

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...om-the-mavericks-138-120-win-against-the-jazz

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Knicks Preview: 3 things as Dallas looks for a third straight win in New York

The Dallas Mavericks (17-26) have won five games in their last eight as they prep for a rare Monday afternoon tilt against the New York Knicks (25-17) at Madison Square Garden. The little spurt the Mavericks are on is a rare kind of mirage — it’s the kind you know is too good to be true even as it appears before your eyes.

The Mavs’ last two wins have come against the tanking Utah Jazz in two games where big man Jusuf Nurkic registered back-to-back DNP-Coach’s Decision designations. Utah is not even trying to camouflage its tank, as the mounting losses leave deep tracks up and down the team’s muddy record. Now Dallas’ schedule takes a bleak turn, with the team’s next 13 opponents sporting a combined win-loss record of 316-224. Only two opponents in that upcoming stretch have a losing record: the Milwaukee Bucks (17-24) next Sunday and the Charlotte Hornets (15-27) two games later on Jan. 29. A 1-12 stretch is certainly possible if you’re looking ahead, even if something like 3-10 is slightly more likely.

The last time the Mavericks and the Knicks met, New York outlasted Dallas 113-111 on Nov. 19 at American Airlines Center behind 28 points and five assists from former Maverick Jalen Brunson. Naji Marshall and D’Angelo Russell led the Mavs in that loss with 23 apiece off the bench.

Here are three things to look out for as the Mavs get ready to battle the Knicks for the last time this season.

Thompson’s hot trigger​

Klay Thompson has been on a tear in a more focal role in the Mavericks’ last two games. He scored a season-high 26 points on 6-of-13 shooting from behind the arc in Thursday’s 144-122 win over the Jazz before pouring in 23 more (matching his previous season-high mark) on 6-of-11 shooting from deep in Saturday’s rematch. It’s been Thompson’s most prolific two-game stretch as a Maverick so far, but he’s been playing well for longer than that. He’s scored 18 or more in four of his last six games as injuries have erased the production usually carried by Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis.

With P.J. Washington (personal), Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Davis (finger) all still out for the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson will need to continue his hot streak to help give the Mavericks a chance against the objectively superior Knicks playing behind their home crowd in Manhattan. Flagg (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable on the latest NBA injury report as of Sunday afternoon.

This six-game stretch has already done wonders for Thompson’s trade value. It remains to be seen whether its continuation can help lift the injury-riddled Mavs to anything close to competitive against the first quality opponent of the tough 13-game stretch ahead.

Brunson bitten by the same bug​

The Mavs may be catching New York at a convenient time, though. Brunson went to the bench just minutes into the Knicks’ 112-101 loss at the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday with an ankle injury and hasn’t played in the team’s last two losses to the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. New York has hit hard times in the New Year, losing eight of the team’s last 10 games dating back to Dec. 31.

New York is a shell of itself without Brunson’s ability to create both his own shot and quality looks for his teammates, but some deeper issues may be starting to show themselves in the new year. Murmurs about the job first-year head coach Mike Brown is doing are starting to surface, and Brunson’s ankle injury only serves to increase the angst surrounding one of the most highly scrutinized teams in the NBA.

The Knicks had not submitted an updated injury report to the NBA as of 2:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday. If Brunson is not available on Monday, that changes the tenor of the matchup significantly. Depending on Flagg’s own availability, Mavs fans could talk themselves into some unfounded optimism here, though backup Miles McBride has stepped up admirably in the Knicks’ last two games. He scored 25 points and dished six assists in the loss to the Warriors and had 23 and five against the Suns.

The 3-point line with no curve​

In each of the Mavs’ last three wins, the team has shot 41% or better from 3-point range. There is no secret sauce here. When the Mavs shoot it better, they give themselves a chance to win. When they don’t, they look clueless.

Flagg or no Flagg, Davis or no Davis, Brunson or no Brunson, Dallas has to keep up with their opponent from beyond the arc. Monday’s game will be no different. If the Mavericks can limit turnovers and shoot it well, they’ll be in this game. If they don’t, they won’t.

Little extraneous analysis is necessary to diagnose this very frustrating team.

How to watch​

The Mavericks and the Knicks will tip off their matinee show at 4 p.m. CDT on Monday from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. The game will be locally televised on NBC and will stream on Peacock.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...as-looks-for-a-third-straight-win-in-new-york

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Jazz Recap: 3 things from the Mavericks 138-120 win against the Jazz

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz yet again, this time 138-120Saturday afternoon in Dallas. It’s the Mavericks second-straight game, and second straight offensive explosion against a Jazz team that has mostly shown little interest in winning across the two games.

This was almost a carbon copy of the Mavericks win on Thursday night, except for the Jazz showing some semblance of shame in the third quarter. Outside of that third quarter, the Mavericks have absolutely embarrassed this Jazz team across the two games, despite the Mavericks missing numerous starters and key players.

Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford once again did not suit up due to ankle injuries suffered against Denver last week. PJ Washington is battling injuries as well, but was probable for this game before being a late scratch due to personal reasons. Dallas once again relied on lots of minutes from two-way players and even a 10-day contract player signed on Thursday. It didn’t matter — Dallas led from wire-to-wire once again.

Klay Thompson was the key igniter once again, scoring 23 points in the first half and torching the Jazz in a variety of ways. That instant offense off the bench basically carried the Mavericks to a double-digit lead and the team never looked back. Jazz guard Keyonte George finally decided to be the first Jazz player to realize that trying hard is important in basketball and scored 21 points in the third to prevent this from being a complete joke of a game. Utah cut the lead to nine early in the fourth, but the Mavericks stomped out that rally pretty quickly after that and the Jazz meekly conceded the game.

Here’s what we noticed from this one.

The Mavericks are professionals, and that should matter​

Dallas’ season is effectively over. The team is 12th in the West, and two losses behind Memphis at 11. The teams in seventh, eighth, and ninth are all surging too and want to win — the Warriors and Trail Blazers are 7-3 in their last 10 and the Clippers are 8-2. Those teams aren’t slowing down anytime soon, so combine that with all the Mavericks injuries and Dallas doesn’t really have a postseason to look forward to in April.

Despite that, the team continues to play hard. I worried after Davis got hurt again and the Mavericks were blown out by Chicago that perhaps the team had finally reached a breaking point and would naturally let go of the rope after fighting so hard despite being so short-handed for the last three months. Instead the Mavericks have won three of their last four since that Bulls blowout loss, and even the loss was a mostly competitive game against the Denver Nuggets.

I’m not sure what all this means. Dallas, on paper, needs to lose as often as possible to secure the best draft pick they can later this June, the last first rounder Dallas has direct control over until 2031. But the Mavericks still have lots of pieces from the 2024 Finals team, they still have Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall, who were brought in to bring that 2024 roster over the hump and win that elusive title. Even with all the injuries the Mavericks just have too many good players to be totally hopeless, even with some brutal losses this season to bad teams like the Wizards and the Pelicans.

So say what you will about coach Jason Kidd, but he has instilled a culture of accountability and competitiveness within this organization. These guys play fucking hard. They don’t quit, even in the games they eventually lose. The Mavericks have played a zillion clutch games regardless of the quality of the opponent. They’ve beaten the Nuggets twice, the Rockets twice, and the Pistons once. They’ve lost 26 games but less than a handful of those were uncompetitive blowouts. They have more wins against teams at .500 or better than you’d expect for a team in 12th place.

Call me old fashioned but that means something. Losing is an awfully hard stench to clean off, and the Mavericks coaching staff has instilled a sense of purpose with this organization, even despite all the buffoonery happening off the court around this team in the last 18 months. The players didn’t trade Luka Doncic, they didn’t try to make Anthony Davis the centerpiece of the team. They didn’t alienate the fans, and they played hard through injuries even when the organization should have known better to keep them healthy. All they’ve done is play hard as hell, and win a few more games than anyone should reasonably expect from them considering the circumstances.

Whenever the Mavericks are good again, or at least playoff-bound, these moments will resonate. Dallas is laying the foundation of the next great Mavericks team. That matters.

The Jazz are an embarrassment and should be kicked out of the league​

I’ve never seen a more embarrassing effort across two games like the Jazz just did on Thursday and Saturday, and this is coming from the same team that lost by 55 points to the Hornets a week ago.

Dallas should not have won these games. Ryan Nembhard, Moussa Cisse, and Miles Kelly are all two-way contract rookies and all three played heavy minutes due to the Mavericks injuries. Dallas signed Jeremiah Robinsin-Earl to a 10-day contract on Thursday before the game, and he played over 20 minutes in each one. Even with the Jazz shameless resting healthy players like Jusuf Nurkic, there’s still enough talent on this roster to not only stay competitive, but quite frankly defeat this limited Mavericks team.

Instead the Mavericks almost set their franchise record for points scored in regulation on Thursday, and followed that up with 138 points on Saturday. This is a Dallas team that even at full-health is one of the worst offensive teams in the league and the Jazz made them look like the Showtime Lakers.

This is a disgrace. The NBA can never really rid the league of tanking, but there’s tanking and then there’s whatever the hell this Jazz team did in the last eight quarters of basketball. They didn’t try, they were disinterested and they wasted everyone’s time. They wasted the 15 Jazz fans still watching these games, they wasted the time of the travel party and trainers and anyone else that had to work these games. They honestly wasted my time as well, since while it’s fun to see the Mavericks blow the doors off a team, these games were so shamelessly uncompetitive that it’s hard to really take anything real away from this game. It felt like a scrimmage or open practice.

The Jazz shouldn’t be allowed on television for the rest of the season. They’re on their fourth straight season of the organization not caring about winning and shockingly it appears the players don’t give a shit about winning either. They are developing losing habits and those habits will be extremely hard to break whenever the team feels like trying again. Honestly at this rate though we’ll probably experience the heat death of the universe before the Jazz feel like trying again.

Professional basketball is an entertainment product. It’s an entertainment product in an age where entertainment has never been so numerous and accessible. Go back 10 or 15 years, and watching your local basketball team on TV was one of the few things you could do. When I was in high school in the mid-2000s, I could watch the Mavericks, watch whatever was on cable, watch whatever movies or TV shows I had on DVD or play whatever video games I owned. Now I have access to virtually every movie and TV show ever made at instant speed, and I don’t even need to buy video games anymore — the most popular games in the world are persistent, free-to-play experiences. Good lord I haven’t even talked about all the shit you can do outside now. Have you been out there lately? There’s so much stuff.

So why the hell would anyone watch what we just watched today? The NBA has structured itself to basically ignore 75 percent or more of the product because you’re not missing much. The incentives to watch suck, the players regularly don’t care, and the orgs don’t care either. So many games have missing stars, injured regulars, or at least one team that could care less about the outcome. It’s horrible. And I don’t care about the NBA’s TV ratings or revenue numbers, I just care as someone that likes the NBA and wants to continue engaging with it. If these games don’t matter and the players don’t care, why should I? I can just quit doing this stupid second job and go spend my time outside or something.

The Jazz can go to hell. Eat my shorts.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...om-the-mavericks-138-120-win-against-the-jazz

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Dallas Mavericks win over the New York Knicks, 114-97

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the New York Knicks on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, winning 114-97 . Both teams had players nursing injuries, but it was the Mavericks who ended up with the big win.

Let’s get to the grades!

Cooper Flagg: B​

18 PTS / 7 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN​

Flagg had a solid game, but it was somewhat muted by a minutes restriction and Max Christie providing a lot of scoring punch. His four turnovers were somewhat glaring, but he hit 50% of his 14 shot attempts and chipped in a bit of everything.

Max Christie: A+​

26 PTS / 6 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 35 MIN​

Christie went absolutely out of his mind and it was a sight to behold. I’ve recently written about how nice it is to see him do more than shoot threes, but Monday night it was plenty nice to see him hoisting the long ball. Christie was 9-for-13 including a mind-boggling 8-for-10 from deep. His second half play came down to earth a bit, but it hardly mattered with the Mavs taking a 20+ point lead into the final frame. He led all scorers and hit a career high in three-point field goals for top marks.

Caleb Martin: C+​

3 PTS / 1 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 24 MIN​

Most of Martin’s contribution came in the form of stuff you won’t see in a box score. He hounded the Knicks on defense, an effort highlighted by another three steals, but otherwise left the offense to others.

Naji Marshall: B​

19 PTS / 8 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 33 MIN​

Marshall couldn’t be stopped in the first half, driving relentlessly to eviscerate the Knicks’ defense. As the game went on, he took more three-pointers, but only hit 1-for-6, driving his shooting percentage down. His game was very similar to Flagg’s, with his blemish being a lower shooting percentage rather than a high turnover total.

Dwight Powell: B​

2 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN​

As ridiculous as it sounds, Powell is getting a bump for the absolute beating he took at the hands of Karl Anthony-Towns. Throughout his NBA career, Powell has been hit in the face more than a professional boxer, but Monday night was next level. Towns is known for his flailing knees, but Powell took a variety of groin shots and stayed professional, using it as motivation to play harder. In respect of his actual game, there isn’t much to talk about. The Knicks’ bigs decimated the Mavericks bigs, but Powell was a pro doing the dirty unsung work.

Klay Thompson: A-​

14 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN​

I’m inclined to go a bit high on Thompson’s grade, which seems counterintuitive relative to his recent play. That said, he did a nice job intangibly on defense, while grabbing boards, getting steals and even tossing a couple of assists to his teammates. In the limited time he played, it was a good game that looked better than even the box score may suggest.

Ryan Nembhard: C+​

4 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN​

Nembhard didn’t have a huge impact on the stat line, struggling to find his shot (2-for-7) with a 5:2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Extra credit for checking in late in the third quarter to settle things down when the Mavericks were a bit out of sorts – it won’t show up in any statistical category, but it was undoubtedly significant and allowed Dallas to enter the fourth quarter with a 23-point lead.

Moussa Cisse: A-​

15 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 4 BLK – 20 MIN​

Cisse did his best to match the Knicks’ size, and while his numbers may not have been as pretty at Karl-Anthony Towns’ or Mitchell Robinson’s numbers, he did work in just under 20 minutes of play. His four blocks were a menace to the Knicks, but his three turnovers and four fouls didn’t help his cause. Stepping up and hitting two free throws when the Knicks decided to Hack-A-Cisse was bigger than the final score may indicate.

Final Thoughts​

Both teams were a bit beat up coming in, but Dallas was coming off two lopsided wins while New York has been struggling of late. The Mavericks came in like a wrecking crew, dropping the most first-half points the Knicks have given up all season. As expected, things got a bit closer here and there in the second half, frankly getting too close for comfort late in the fourth quarter before Dallas closed it out. The Mavericks have plenty of struggles right now with a lot of players out or having just returned, but you wouldn’t have known it in what was basically a full on drubbing of the Knicks Monday night.

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...mavericks-win-over-the-new-york-knicks-114-97

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Darryn Peterson highlights what we’re watching this week in college hoops

The college basketball season is roughly at the halfway point, meaning we’ve got a pretty good read on what these teams and players are going to be as we progress through conference play.

A team like Kansas, who has somewhat slept walked through the start of the season, found its way with two big home wins over previously unbeaten Iowa State and the Baylor Bears. On the flip side, Iowa State and Vanderbilt were undefeated entering the week, but emerged having lost two consecutive games. Sustainability is the name of the game this time of the year, and we will soon find out who has it and who does not.

Prospect of the week: Darryn Peterson (Guard, Kansas)​

Last five games: 24.6 points, 5.0 rebounds per game (48.7% from the floor, 39.5% from deep)​

It is remarkable to watch Darryn Peterson play basketball, and here lately he finally has been playing consistently. There isn’t a player in college right now who is as NBA ready as Peterson is. His ability on the offensive end to meticulously get to his spots and knock down shots is fun to watch. Darryn has a great pace to his game off the dribble, as he never feels sped up by a defender.

"Haha! Ball. Player." Darryn Peterson putting on a show @KUHoops pic.twitter.com/sqPW5CCExL

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 17, 2026

Simply put, I can’t think of a guard in recent memory that has been more polished at the college level than Darryn Peterson. There is still at least some concern from me about Darryn’s continued leg issues, as he has not played more than 32 minutes in a game this season. However, he hasn’t missed a game since Big 12 play began, and he’s looked fantastic while he’s been out there. Assuming he isn’t medically red flagged, this is your first overall pick.

I know that Peterson has a hype train that follows him every time he steps on the floor. Frankly, I don’t think we’re doing enough to explain just how good he is. You could drop Darryn Peterson into the Warriors at Mavericks game on Thursday, and he would probably be the third or fourth best player on the court. He’s going to be a star.

Games of the week​

January 20th​

12 Texas Tech at Baylor – 8:00p CT (Peacock)​

15 Vanderbilt at 20 Arkansas – 8:00p CT (ESPN)​

19 Kansas at Colorado – 10:00p CT (ESPN)​

This is a fun Tuesday night card. Texas Tech is coming off of a huge home win against a very good BYU team. They’ll now face a Baylor squad that has looked awful as of late, but this is a dangerous spot. Vanderbilt was unbeaten this time last week, but that zero in the loss column is now a two and they’re underdogs in Fayetteville. The Hogs are a different team at home, and Darius Acuff should have a favorable matchup against the undersized Commodores. Finally, Kansas is heading to elevation against a feisty Colorado squad. Darryn Peterson and the Jayhawks are better, but this is a typical let down spot.

January 24th​

22 North Carolina at 14 Virginia – 1:00p CT (ESPN)​

11 Illinois at 4 Purdue – 2:00p CT (FOX)​

6 Houston at 12 Texas Tech – 5:30p CT (ESPN)​

Tennessee at 17 Alabama – 7:30p CT (ESPN)​

We get to run back one of the games of the year on Saturday, as Texas Tech will get to host Houston this time around. I’ll be very interested to see how Tech handles Kingston Flemings, as the young freshman lit the Red Raiders up for 23 points in the first matchup. Conversely, does Houston continue to throw doubles at Christian Anderson? This allows JT Toppin to play four on three in the short roll, which is advantageous for Texas Tech. College Gameday in Lubbock, plus a night game so the students can hydrate all day? We are in store for a fantastic game.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a few nice matchups to round out the day. The Heels have struggled lately, almost entirely because they can’t get stops defensively. That is an issue against UVA, as the tempo that they are playing stresses even the best defenses. Caleb Wilson, UNC’s phenomenal freshman, will have ample opportunity to show off here. Next up, Illinois at Purdue features an elite guard matchup with Andrej Stojakovic facing off against Braden Smith.

And lastly, Tennessee will face Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The guard play should be fantastic here with Gillespie for the Vols and Philon for the Tide. We know Alabama can score the ball here, so this game will come down to the efficiency of Nate Ament and Ja’Kobe Gillespie for Tennessee.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...what-were-watching-this-week-in-college-hoops

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

How Cooper Flagg compares to recent number one overall picks

The Dallas Mavericks’ rookie star and number one overall pick Cooper Flagg just played the 41st game of his young career on Monday against the New York Knicks. His inaugural season has been a little interesting. Head coach Jason Kidd experimented with Flagg at point guard to open the season, a tough situation for any young player. The Mavericks’ odd lineups made it even tougher for the first year forward.

Kidd eventually pivoted away from that experiment and put Flagg at the forward spot, and things improved drastically. Flagg won Western Conference rookie of the month in both November and December, and looks to be in a tight race with Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year.

With half of his first season in the books, I wanted to look back at the last ten years of number one overall picks and see how Flagg compares. I compiled each number one pick’s basic counting stats—field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and 3-pointers made. Slash stats are points/rebounds/assists per game. All stats are through a player’s first 41 games of their career, regardless of whether those first 41 games came in their rookie year or in later seasons.

2025: Cooper Flagg​

48% FG, 29% 3P, 18.8/6.3/4.1, 1.3 steals, .8 blocks​

Totals: 770 points, 257 rebounds, 170 assists, 52 steals, 32 blocks, 4o 3PM​

Flagg didn’t land into the perfect situation. The Mavericks are still reeling from the Luka Doncic trade, left in an odd purgatory. The roster is built poorly, expensive, yet far from being a contender for much of anything besides the play-in tournament. Worse still, the best player on that awkwardly fit roster, Anthony Davis, is consistently injured. Yet the Mavericks haven’t made any moves toward rebuilding the team around Flagg.

Head coach Jason Kidd went full mad scientist and experimented with Flagg at point guard early in the season. With Davis in and out of the lineup, there’s been no consistent rotation. Trade rumors and the detritus from the Doncic trade still linger over the franchise.

Flagg’s first 41 games in the NBA haven’t been ideal. But he’s put up numbers just as good or better than several of the number one overall picks listed below.

2015: Karl-Anthony Towns​

52% FG, 33% 3P, 15.6/9.5/1.2, .6 steals, 1.7 blocks​

Totals: 638 points, 391 rebounds, 50 assists, 26 steals, 69 blocks, 11 3PM​

Towns was a good scorer the first half of his rookie season, but really stood out on defense. He’s one of the better rebounders on this list, and is second only to Victor Wembanyama in blocks.

Flagg edges Towns in scoring and is a better playmaker early on, and has better on ball defense. He’s also a much better shooter (40 3pm through 41 games compared to Towns’ 11) than the self-proclaimed “best shooting big man in NBA history.”

2016: Ben Simmons​

51% FG, 0% 3P, 16.6/8/7.2, 1.9 steals, .9 blocks​

Totals: 679 points, 328 rebounds, 296 assists, 77 steals, 38 blocks, 0 3PM​

Simmons’ career has derailed to a point where he is now a professional competitive fisherman (no really, he is), so it’s easy to forget what a stat-stuffing phenom he was early on. Simmons did a little of everything on the basketball court, except shoot 3’s.

The Sixers had a more coherent vision for their team when Simmons was drafted than the Mavericks currently do with Flagg on board. Simmons also missed his first season in the league, giving him a full calendar year of development that Flagg hasn’t had.

2017: Markelle Fultz​

43% FG, 23% 3P, 8.2/3.1/3.4, 1 steal, .2 blocks​

Totals: 337 points, 129 rebounds, 138 assists, 39 steals, 9 blocks, 8 3PM​

Fultz didn’t get to his 41st career game until his third season in the league. Even with the extra time in the NBA to develop, his stats are unremarkable. Due to all his injuries and issues with his jump shot, it’s impressive that Fultz has been able to carve out a career that’s going on eight years in the league. It speaks to his mental toughness, despite whatever went wrong early on his career.

Needless to say, Flagg definitively had a better first half-year than Fultz.

2018: DeAndre Ayton​

60% FG, 0% 3P, 16.7/6.8/2.2, .8 steals, .9 blocks​

Totals: 686 points, 439 rebounds, 90 assists, 31 steals, 37 blocks, 0 3PM​

Ayton was a good scorer the first half of his rookie season, but didn’t do much else. For a big man, his rebounding and block numbers are low. On the other hand, 2.2 assists per game is pretty good for a rookie center. Ayton’s stats through 41 games as a rookie are decent, but considering who was drafted after him (remember Luka Doncic?), you’d probably want more out of your number one pick.

Flagg has been asked to do more than Ayton was in his rookie year, and the play on the court, as well as the stats, shows it.

2019: Zion Williamson​

59% FG, 36% 3P, 23.1/6.8/2.2, .8 steals, .4 blocks​

Totals: 946 points, 278 rebounds, 89 assists, 33 steals, 18 blocks, 8 3PM​

Williamson didn’t get to his 41st game until his second season, but unlike Fultz, he took advantage of that extra development time. He’s the highest scorer on this list, and looked unstoppable with the ball in his hands those first few years. When he was healthy, of course. Williamson didn’t do a lot, else, however, with low numbers in every other category.

It’s a question that can spark some debate—would you rather have an electric scorer like Williamson, or a better all-around player like Flagg?

2020: Anthony Edwards​

39% FG, 32% 3P, 16.8/4.2/2.5, 1 steal, .4 blocks​

Totals: 689 points, 171 rebounds, 101 assists, 39 steals, 15 blocks, 86 3PM​

Flagg has similar numbers to Edwards, which should be encouraging to Mavericks fans. Obviously they have different games, but a half-season of numbers similar to a multi-time all-star and All-NBA player is what you like to see.

2021: Cade Cunningham​

40% FG, 33% 3P, 10.4/5.5/5.2, 1.3 steals, .7 blocks​

Totals: 648 points, 224 rebounds, 215 assists, 54 steals, 28 blocks, 84 3PM​

Cunningham grinded out a messy situation as a rookie and put up some solid stats. His assist numbers are low for a point guard, but remember, the Detroit Pistons had absolutely no one to hit shots at that point. He’s second only to Simmons in steals on this list.

There’s some comparison here to Flagg’s rookie year. The Piston’s poorly built roster and a front office in flux sounds familiar to Mavericks fans. Hopefully things turn around for Dallas and Flagg like they did for Detroit and Cunningham.

2022: Paolo Banchero​

44% FG, 32% 3P, 20.8/6.4/3.8 1 steal, .5 blocks​

Totals: 852 points, 261 rebounds, 154 assists, 42 steals, 20 blocks, 56 3PM​

Banchero showed flashes of greatness early, and as is tradition in Orlando, without any shooting to space the floor for him. That’s tough for a rookie. Banchero took a leap in his sophomore year, making his first all-star game. He’s failed to build on that second-year bump, however, and hasn’t upped his game since.

Banchero’s first 41 games are a pretty good comp for Flagg. Hopefully the Mavericks rookie can level up the same way Banchero did next year.

2023: Victor Wembanyama​

47% FG, 30% 3P, 20.6/10.1/3.1 1.1 steals, 3.1 blocks​

Totals: 843 points, 415 rebounds, 126 assists, 45 steals, 128 blocks, 61 3PM​

Wembanyama is the third leading scorer on this list. When you add in the tremendous amount of rebounds and blocks, along with the surprising number of assists, it’s easy to see why the Spurs’ phenom is considered an alien. If Wembanyama can stay healthy, he’ll be a force in the West for years.

Flagg beats out Wembanyama in assists and 3-pointers, but I give Wemby the edge here. He’s just too dynamic on both sides of the ball in those first 41 games.

2024: Zaccharie Risacher​

41% FG, 30% 3P, 11/3.5/1.2, .8 steals, .5 blocks​

Totals: 451 points, 143 rebounds, 49 assists, 34 steals, 21 blocks, 52 3PM​

Risacher’s first season was not what you want to see out of a number one overall pick. Only Fultz had worse counting stats, and as mentioned above, Fultz’s first few seasons were a disaster. But Fultz has overcome all his early issues and carved out a decent career in the NBA. Maybe Risacher can do the same.

Flagg easily surpassed Risacher’s production, but as we’ve seen above, every rookie’s situation needs to be taken into context. Risacher can still turn into a good rotation player.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...g-compares-to-recent-number-one-overall-picks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to watch for when the Dallas Mavericks host the Golden State Warriors

The Dallas Mavericks (18-26) are back at home on Thursday to host the Golden State Warriors (25-20). It is a rematch of the 2022 Western Conference Finals, but it hardly resembles the matchup four years ago.

The Mavericks are hot. Their three-game win streak is a part of six wins in their last nine games. They are eighth in net rating (4.7) over that time frame and fifth in field goal percentage (49.3). They have wins over Houston and New York during this stretch and are looking to added another quality victory on Thursday at home.

Golden State is not to be overlooked, either, though. They have won six of eight and have only lost four times since December 18th. The Warriors just lost forward Jimmy Butler for the season to a torn ACL and are coming off a big loss to the Raptors.

With the injury to Butler, this matchup will now feature three of the two teams’ four highest-paid players in street clothes. Fortunately for viewers, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg and Hall of Famer Stephen Curry are slated to play, so this game will still be must-see television. Here are three things to watch for when the Mavericks host the Warriors on Thursday:

Primetime revenge for Flagg​

The last time Dallas was on national TV was a week ago at home against the Nuggets. The Mavericks got manhandled in that game, and Flagg was playing poorly before exiting the game with an injury in the first half. Thursday is an opportunity for Flagg to bounce back in front of a national audience against a team that he torched under heightened stakes on Christmas Day. Flagg had 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists in that game, and is surely thinking about repeating that performance while flipping the result this time around.

Steph Curry flurry​

Curry has played very well in Dallas since the pandemic. He has averaged 28.1 points and seven assists against the Mavericks at American Airlines Center in that time frame, which includes a nuclear 57-point explosion almost five years ago. He had a putrid game in these teams’ last meeting, but do not expect a repeat of that. The Mavericks match up poorly with Curry, and without Butler on the floor, the Warriors are going to look to bomb away even more than they did already. The Mavericks’ fast pace and shot-making recently will also feed the game flow that Curry likes to play in.

Klay sticking it to his former team​

This is a bit of low-hanging fruit, but Thursday is a big opportunity for Klay Thompson to remind his former team what they’re missing. Thompson has been up and down since arriving in Dallas, and this is especially true in games against the Warriors. His first two were incredible: 51 points on 16-of-31 shooting. The last three, however, have left a sour taste in Thompson’s mouth: 35 points on 12-of-35 shooting and a 1-2 record. Dallas has a great chance to win this game, and Thompson has shot 51.6 percent from three in the last three games. It will be at the forefront of his agenda to continue this hot play and show Golden State that he still has it.

How to watch​

The game will tip at 6:30 p.m. CST on Prime Video.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...llas-mavericks-host-the-golden-state-warriors

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Grading the Mavericks: it will be hard to tank with Jason Kidd as head coach

The Mavericks were 3-1 this past week and moved to 12th place in the West, but are just two games back of 10th. They lost to Denver (118-109) before beating Utah twice (144-122, 138-120) and then traveled to New York, where they dismantled the Knicks (114-97). Max Christie led the team in scoring this with 24 points per game. P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford played in just one of the four games due to ankle injuries and personal reasons. Cooper Flagg missed two games with an ankle sprain as well, while Max Christie missed two with an illness. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) remain out.

Grade: A-​

The Mavericks had a good week! They lost to a Denver team that got its key pieces (other than Nikola Jokic) back recently, but ran the table after that. Both wins against Utah came in bizarre blowouts, where the Jazz looked like they didn’t care about hiding their attempt to tank. Then, with whiffs of January 25th, 2010, Dallas blew the Knicks out of the water in one of the most shocking wins in recent memory. It was a double-digit spread in the Knicks’ favor, but the game was over by halftime. Max Christie hit six threes in the first half, leading the Mavericks to 75 points and a 28-point halftime lead. It was never close, and the Knicks looked helpless against a Dallas team that had Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse as its only two available centers.

Naji Marshall continues to be incredible. He averaged 20.3 points and 4.3 assists this week and did not cool off, shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Brandon Williams played marvelously, scoring 16.5 points a night in electrifying fashion. A lot of guys, including Dwight Powell, stepped up with regular starters out of the lineup. With games against the Warriors, Lakers, and Bucks this upcoming week, it was good to gain momentum before the schedule toughens up.

Straight A’s: Jason Kidd​

As much as Jason Kidd frustrates fans to no end with his experimental style, the one thing you cannot take away from him is his ability to get guys to play hard. The Mavericks started four different starting lineups in as many games and won their last three by an average of 19 points. Caleb Martin, who averaged less than three points in 47 games for Dallas before this week, looked serviceable in a starting role and even scored 14 points against Utah. The 144 points last Thursday against the Jazz were the 10th most points in franchise history, and they did it with no Cooper Flagg and 10 different guys playing 20-plus minutes. Hell, they signed Jeremiah Robinson-Earl the day of that game, and got 55 solid minutes from him in three subsequent appearances. Dallas’ goal of pairing Flagg with a top-five pick in this upcoming draft is in jeopardy, simply because this team will not lie down while Kidd is at the helm.

Currently Failing: Jaden Hardy​

Unfortunately, it is so over for Jaden Hardy. In three blowout wins this week against Utah and New York, games in which the Mavericks won by 22, 18, and 17 points, Hardy was a team-worst minus-13 and shot 37.9 percent from the floor. He has not played much this season, but with opportunity presenting itself via the injury bug, he completely dropped the ball. Hardy was given the starting nod in chapter one of the series against Utah, and the fact that he did not start the second installment while playing just 17 minutes total in that game should tell you everything you need to know. The following two-minute appearance against the Knicks seems to signal that Kidd is done with the fourth-year guard. I don’t blame him; I have had enough of watching him.

Extra Credit: Klay Thompson​

Klay Thompson shooting the ball is a beautiful thing. The beauty increases tenfold when the shots go in, and did they ever this week. Thompson hit 18 of his 38 threes (47.4 percent) and 25 of his 50 shots (50 percent). He went nuclear in the first half of the Saturday matinee against the Jazz, scoring all 23 of his points in just 14 minutes. At times, Thompson plays like he is on his way out of the league. But he still has stretches of greatness in him, and it is a magical thing to witness when it happens.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...be-hard-to-tank-with-jason-kidd-as-head-coach

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

A breakdown of Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic’s first 41 games with the Mavericks

Cooper Flagg played in the 41st game of his rookie season on Monday against the New York Knicks. I recently compared Flagg’s first 41 games to those of the last ten number one overall picks, and figured why stop there. How does Flagg’s first half-season stack up against Luka Doncic’s?

Doncic wasn’t the number one overall pick in 2018, but it’s been obvious for a while that he should have been. It’s incredible to think that not only DeAndre Ayton, but Marvin Bagley Jr., and (technically) Trae Young were selected ahead of Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping Flagg’s career mirrors that of Doncic’s, if not better. The only thing we have to compare right now, though, are the two young stars’ first 41 games, so let’s take a look at how they look next to each other.

Luka Doncic​

43% FG, 37% 3P, 20/6.7/5, 1.1 steals, .3 blocks​

Totals: 822 points, 275 rebounds, 207 assists, 46 steals, 11 blocks, 98 3P made​

Doncic’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season came against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 28th, 2018. But his best game was probably a week earlier, on December 20th, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic put up 32 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals in that game.

Meanwhile, Flagg’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season is also his best game. On December 15th, 2025 against the Utah Jazz, Flagg notched 42 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal. Here’s what Flagg’s first 41 games looks like:

Cooper Flagg​

48% FG, 29% 3P, 18.8/6.3/4.1, 1.3 steals, .8 blocks​

Totals: 770 points, 257 rebounds, 170 assists, 52 steals, 32 blocks, 40 3PM​

Flagg measures up to Doncic’s first 41 games pretty well! That’s encouraging for everyone rooting for Flagg to live up to that number one overall pick label.

Each rookie enters a completely different situation when they’re drafted. Some join well-run, competitive teams with a clearly defined role. Some enter rebuilds that are complete tear-downs. Others are dropped into absolute messes.

Doncic came into a more stable situation. His first game he started alongside veterans Wes Matthews and DeAndre Jordan, with J.J. Barea and Devin Harris coming off the bench. Dirk Nowitzki began the year injured and wouldn’t join the lineup until 27 games into the season, but he was there to guide Doncic as he adapted to the NBA.

That’s not to say everything was perfect for Doncic as he navigated those first 41 games. There were some issues with veterans freezing him out during games, and he had issues with head coach Rick Carlisle. But it went about as well as you could hope for an introduction to the NBA.

Flagg has dealt with a situation that’s much more murky, at least off the court. The Mavericks came into the season with a poorly constructed roster. With a lack of established point guards to get the talent-laden front court the ball, the likelihood of Dallas struggling was high. That alone was going to make things rough on Flagg.

Head coach Jason Kidd resorted to playing Flagg at point guard early in the season, and it didn’t go well. Thankfully that experiment was abandoned and the Mavericks’ rookie was moved to a more natural position at forward. Kidd found a guard rotation of Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard that’s been serviceable, and Flagg has benefitted greatly.

Flagg also joined a franchise in the midst of a front office mess. Just 11 games into Flagg’s rookie season, Nico Harrison was rightfully fired for trading one of the top five players in the NBA for one of the most injured in Anthony Davis. Since joining the Mavericks, Davis hasn’t played more than five consecutive games.

The sporadic availability of Davis, coupled with the tinkering Kidd has had to do with the lineup haven’t made things easy on the court for Flagg. Still, he’s pushed through and put up numbers that are comparable to Doncic and some of the best number one overall draft picks of the last decade. There’s still a whole second half of the season to play, but the Mavericks and their fans should feel great about the trajectory he’s on so early in his career.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...uka-doncics-first-41-games-with-the-mavericks