The Dallas Mavericks’ trip abroad was supposed to bring energy and perspective. Instead, it exposed the same weaknesses that have plagued them since opening night.
Dallas dropped both games of its two-city road trip — falling 122–110 to the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City and 110–102 to the Houston Rockets two nights later — to return home 2–5.
Across both losses, the themes were consistent: fourth-quarter breakdowns, porous paint defense, and a roster stretched thin by injuries without a go-to closer down the stretch.
Fourth-Quarter Collapses Continue
The Mavericks’ 35–17 fourth-quarter deficit against Detroit told the story of the night. Dallas led 93–87 heading into the final period but watched a six-point lead evaporate as Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham took control.
“When you look at the start of that fourth quarter, we turned the ball over twice, missed some layups,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “We had some great looks, and they capitalized. Points off turnovers were extremely high for us tonight. We’ve got to take care of that.”
Kidd refused to use injuries as an excuse, even with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford all limited or out.
“In this league, you’ve got to play with the guys you have,” Kidd said. “For three quarters, we put ourselves in position to win that game. Unfortunately, in the fourth, they dominated the paint, got the turnovers, and capitalized off them. Give them credit — they were good in that fourth quarter.”
D’Angelo Russell, who scored 31 points and knocked down seven threes, said the Mavericks didn’t match Detroit’s physicality in the final minutes.
“We were getting a flow before halftime,” Russell said. “The third quarter probably could’ve been a little better, and that carried over to the fourth.”
Two nights later in Houston, it was déjà vu. The Mavericks were tied 99–99 with just over four minutes left before the Rockets closed the game on an 11–3 run. Houston outscored Dallas 28–19 in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on late turnovers and missed shots.
Dallas Mavericks Get Dominated Inside
Paint defense was the common denominator. Dallas surrendered 72 points in the paint to Detroit and 62 to Houston — 134 total over two games. The Pistons also pulled down 14 offensive rebounds, while the Rockets added 15, highlighting the Mavericks’ recurring issues finishing defensive possessions.
“They’ve got big, physical guys,” Gafford said. “You feel like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. We knew how physical it’d be, and we battled.”
Playing without Davis and Lively, Dallas had no answer for Detroit’s front line. Duren finished with 33 points on 13-of-16 shooting and 10 rebounds, while Cunningham piled up a career-high 18 assists. In Houston, Alperen Şengün added 26 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, and Amen Thompson sliced through the lane for a season-high 27 points.
“We’ve got to do a better job protecting the paint,” 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.”
P.J. Washington, who led Dallas with 29 points and 12 rebounds against Houston, agreed the team’s problems inside are about more than size.
“We got beat on the glass both games,” Washington said. “We’ve just got 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.”
Daniel Gafford’s Return, P.J. Washington’s Rise
Amid the losses, a few positives emerged. Gafford, returning from a right ankle sprain, gave Dallas a much-needed interior presence. He finished with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, and three blocks in Houston, returning to the floor after briefly limping off in the third quarter. He wasn’t listed on the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans.
“It was just discomfort,” Gafford said. “Once I felt good running, I was fine. It’s only my second game back, so I’m taking baby steps to get to 100 percent.”
Meanwhile, Washington has become the Mavericks’ most consistent offensive contributor. He’s averaging 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists through seven games while filling gaps left by Dallas’ missing stars.
“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.”
Cooper Flagg’s Growth and Perspective Abroad
For Cooper Flagg, the trip was a learning experience — both on the court and off. The rookie scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Detroit, calling his first international game “an incredible experience.”
“It’s amazing to bring the game to a new place I’ve never been before,” Flagg said. “The crowd was amazing. I haven’t made as many shots or been as efficient as I want to, but I’m going to keep trusting the work. I’m not worried.”
The altitude in Mexico City didn’t help, either.
“Everybody was breathing heavy — even the officials,” Kidd said with a smile. “The altitude is real. The guys played extremely hard, and with that, you should be tired.”
Looking Ahead
As Dallas returns home, the formula for improvement is clear: defend the paint, rebound with purpose, and finish games. The Mavericks have been outscored by a combined 25 points in fourth quarters over their last two contests and have given up 20 more rebounds than they’ve secured.
They’ll look to reverse that trend Wednesday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans — hoping the lessons learned abroad turn into progress back home.
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