The Dallas Mavericks’ search for a road win continues. A back-and-forth battle with the Houston Rockets unraveled in the final minutes Monday night as Dallas fell, 110-102, at Toyota Center — its second straight defeat on the road trip and fifth loss in seven games.
Amen Thompson powered Houston with a season-high 27 points, while Alperen Şengün added 26 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in another dominant interior showing. Kevin Durant finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 6-of-18 shooting. The Rockets’ starters combined for 91 of the team’s 110 points, using a relentless attack in the paint to offset cold perimeter shooting.
Dallas, still without Anthony Davis (left calf strain), Kyrie Irving (ACL recovery), Danté Exum (fractured left hand), and Dereck Lively II (right ankle sprain), leaned heavily on P.J. Washington, who delivered his most complete outing of the season with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Max Christie added 17 points, and Cooper Flagg had 12 before a shoulder issue limited him in the second half.
Early Battle Sets Stage for Tight Finish
Despite the depleted lineup, the Mavericks came out aggressive and dictated the pace early. Washington’s assertiveness against Houston’s zone fueled Dallas’ offense, while Daniel Gafford and Christie capitalized on early transition opportunities.
“They were in a zone,” Washington said. “I was just trying to attack the little guy. I’m very comfortable in the middle of the zone, so I was just trying to be aggressive. My teammates need me to be aggressive, so that’s what I tried to do.”
Flagg gave Dallas a major lift in the second quarter, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers. The 18-year-old banked in a triple from the top of the key in the final minute of the half and smiled as he backpedaled down the floor — a rare moment of ease amid a stretch where the Mavericks had struggled to find consistent offense.
But the Rockets’ size and cutting punished Dallas inside. Şengün and Thompson combined for a highlight sequence midway through the second quarter when Thompson saved a loose ball, leading to a reverse alley-oop from Şengün that ignited the home crowd. By halftime, Houston led 61-58 with 36 points in the paint and a 30-21 rebounding edge.
After the break, Washington scored 10 of the Mavericks’ first 15 points of the third quarter to give Dallas a brief lead. His physical drives and floater game kept the Mavericks close while Gafford anchored the defense with timely blocks. Still, Houston’s second-chance points and interior efficiency proved costly.
Washington said afterward that Dallas showed progress offensively but failed to maintain consistency.
“I think we’re starting to make more shots and play together better,” he said. “Obviously, we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but things are moving in the right direction offensively. Defensively, we’ve got to be better. Too many points in the paint and way too many fouls. We’ve got a lot of work to do on that end.”
P.J. Washington Leads, but Dallas Mavericks Fade Late
The game remained tight until the final four minutes. Durant buried consecutive three-pointers to put Houston ahead 99-94, but Washington’s and-one finish tied it at 99 with 3:58 to play. From there, Dallas went cold. Şengün’s spin move over Gafford gave Houston a 105-102 lead with 90 seconds remaining, and Thompson’s late free throws and block on Flagg sealed it.
Washington pointed to breakdowns on both ends in the final minutes.
“We started trapping and got a little loose on our rotations,” he said. “They went to the line a few times. We came down trying to get into a pick-and-roll and make a play, but it didn’t go our way. We’ve got to be better in those situations — get better shots and execute down the stretch.”
Despite falling short, Washington said the group is learning to stay poised with so many absences.
“It means a lot,” he said when asked about Daniel Gafford fighting through injury. “He wants to be out there with us. We’re glad he’s back—we missed him. We’ve got to fight with him and bring that energy every night. We played three great quarters, but the fourth could’ve been better. We just need to play a full 48 minutes and close out.”
He added that the team has to adjust without its stars late in games.
“Attack the players on the floor that can’t defend as well,” Washington said. “We did that all night and got good shots, just need to do a better job in crunch time.”
Jason Kidd Credits P.J. Washington, Calls for Team Rebounding
Head coach Jason Kidd credited Washington’s performance but said rebounding and interior defense were again deciding factors. Houston finished with 62 points in the paint and a 50-41 edge on the glass.
“It’s got to be by committee,” Kidd said. “Sometimes we’re smaller, so everyone has to box out. They crash with everybody, so we’ve got to respond with the same physicality.”
Kidd praised Washington’s effort against Houston’s zone and his ability to shoulder both ends of the floor.
“He did a great job playing in the middle of the zone,” Kidd said. “He was aggressive, got to the free-throw line, and played both sides of the ball. We ask him to guard everyone and score, and he’s doing both. He was definitely a bright spot.”
Kidd said the team will keep leaning on collective execution while waiting for reinforcements.
“It has to be collective,” he said. “Some pieces are missing, but we’re generating the right looks. We’ve got to keep trusting the pass and playing together.”
The coach added that Cooper Flagg’s toughness stood out after he tweaked his shoulder in the second half.
“He played great on both ends,” Kidd said. “In the second half, the ball found P.J., and Cooper made the right reads. He’s showing toughness—fighting through that shoulder issue and still competing. That sets the tone for everyone.”
Daniel Gafford Pushes Through Pain
Daniel Gafford provided stability inside despite still managing his right ankle. He scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds and three blocks, briefly leaving in the third quarter after contesting a shot before returning to start the fourth.
“Just discomfort,” Gafford said. “Came down wrong, jumped off balance. I walked it off and got back in mentally. Once I felt good running, I was fine.”
Facing Houston’s rotation of bigs, he described the interior battle as a physical test.
“It was a dogfight,” Gafford said. “They’ve got big, physical guys — Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Mo Bamba. You feel like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. We knew how physical it’d be, and we battled.”
Gafford said the team raised its intensity after halftime, allowing only one offensive rebound in the second half.
“We raised our physicality,” he said. “I told the other bigs to do to them what they were doing to us — push back, hold ground. There was a lot of dirty work under the rim that didn’t get called, so we matched it.”
He also echoed Kidd’s emphasis on fundamentals in freeing up the shooters.
“Better screens get our shooters open, which opens up everything else,” Gafford said. “If Klay gets hot, defenses rotate, and it creates opportunities for everyone.”
Gafford said he was encouraged to finish the game after returning from discomfort.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Every day in this league is a blessing. I don’t take it for granted. I just want to keep getting better and feeling stronger.”
What’s Next
The Mavericks return home Wednesday to host the winless New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 27th in offensive rating. With Davis still out and no clear timetable for Irving’s return, Kidd said the team must continue emphasizing rebounding, communication, and consistency.
Looking back on the road trip, Washington said the lessons were clear.
“We got beat on the glass both games,” he said. “Just need to be better with paint defense. We’re a little handicapped right now with all the injuries, but as a group we all have to hit the glass more, limit teams to one shot, and get out and run.”
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