The Dallas Mavericks put themselves in position to win a difficult road game Saturday night, absorbing early pressure, responding after halftime, and carrying a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

They could not close.

Turnovers, missed chances to finish defensive possessions, and cold perimeter shooting flipped the game late, sending Dallas to a 121-114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Center.

Philadelphia won despite missing several core rotation players. Joel Embiid remained sidelined with illness and right knee injury management, Paul George did not play due to left knee injury management, and Kelly Oubre Jr. was also unavailable.

Dallas entered closer to full strength but not without health considerations. Anthony Davis played through illness, while Klay Thompson was available despite left knee soreness after being listed on the injury report.

Early Pressure And A Shrinking Margin

Philadelphia’s pace and physicality tested Dallas from the opening minutes. Rookie VJ Edgecombe attacked downhill early, forcing Dallas into rotations and rushed decisions, while the Sixers extended possessions with offensive rebounds.

After the game, Davis pointed to the foundational issues that surfaced early and lingered throughout the night.

“Eighteen turnovers — you’re not going to win a basketball game like that,” Davis said. “Twenty offensive rebounds — you’re not going to win a basketball game like that. We felt good in the third quarter, but they made a run. We were getting Maxey to his right hand, which was part of our game plan, but our discipline wasn’t there all the way through. When you put all of that together, it’s tough to beat a team like that. We only made three threes out of 18 tonight, which I think is a season low.”

Philadelphia closed the first quarter ahead 38-33, already benefiting from extra possessions and a faster tempo than Dallas preferred.

Dallas Mavericks Regain Composure Before Halftime

The Mavericks steadied themselves in the second quarter by slowing the game and leaning into half-court execution. Cooper Flagg began attacking gaps with confidence, while Davis anchored the interior on both ends.

Flagg acknowledged that many of Dallas’ mistakes were avoidable, while also crediting Philadelphia’s pressure.

“A lot of it was self-inflicted, but you have to give them credit too,” Flagg said. “They sped us up, got into passing lanes, and made us uncomfortable. We can clean that up.”

Despite continued rebounding pressure from the Sixers, Dallas trimmed the deficit and entered halftime down 68-62, still within striking distance.

Third-Quarter Control Creates Opportunity

Coming out of the break, Dallas delivered its most complete stretch of the night. Davis controlled the paint, Flagg attacked decisively, and the Mavericks strung together defensive stops that allowed them to play with pace and confidence.

That stretch left Dallas with momentum entering the fourth quarter, but Davis said the details that mattered most slipped once the pressure intensified.

“They took charges and sped us up,” Davis said. “Turnovers again. Our shot selection played into their favor. They gained confidence. The two charges — one on Naji and one on me — gave them energy and got the crowd into it. On the road, you have to silence that momentum, and we weren’t able to because we didn’t make shots, rebounded poorly, and didn’t handle the pressure well.”

Fourth-Quarter Breakdown Turns The Game

After Flagg tied the game at 104 with 8:56 remaining, Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe took control. The duo combined for an 11-0 run that flipped the game, capped by a Maxey 3-pointer that pushed Philadelphia ahead 115-104 with 6:55 left.

Davis said Dallas’ defensive issues late were rooted in execution rather than capability.

“It’s tough, but we’re a good enough defensive team to handle it,” Davis said. “We just didn’t execute our game plan. We gave Maxey too much space and let him get downhill. Same with Edgecombe — you can’t give him space. In today’s game, everyone crashes. They’re both fun players, but we’re capable of guarding that better than we did tonight.”

Dallas made one final push, cutting the deficit to 119-114 in the final minute, but could not generate another stop before Philadelphia closed the game at the free-throw line. The Sixers outscored Dallas 30-17 in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers, Threes And Shot Readiness

The numbers reflected the collapse. Dallas committed 18 turnovers and allowed 20 offensive rebounds, giving Philadelphia 19 more shot attempts.

When asked about the possession disparity, coach Jason Kidd pointed to a combination of Dallas mistakes and Philadelphia pressure.

“I’d say half and half,” Kidd said. “We weren’t secure with the ball. Eighteen turnovers led to them getting 19 more shots than us. On the road, you can’t win like that. Add in giving up 20 offensive rebounds, and we put ourselves behind early.”

Dallas’ perimeter shooting compounded the problem. The Mavericks finished 3-of-18 from three-point range.

“We didn’t make them and didn’t take enough,” Kidd said. “We shot 18 threes and went 3-for-18. That’s low for us. We’ve been shooting and making more than that. But with turnovers, you’re going to get fewer shots.”

Davis echoed that assessment, pointing to aggressiveness and readiness.

“I don’t think we were aggressive enough, and that led to some of our turnovers,” Davis said. “We weren’t shot-ready. Shooting 18 threes isn’t going to get you wins in today’s NBA. Not saying we need to force them — we take what the defense gives us — but if the threes aren’t falling, we can’t let that dictate our effort on the other end.”

Rookie Spotlight And Perspective

Despite the loss, the matchup between Flagg and Edgecombe stood out. Flagg finished with 24 points and handled heavy responsibility throughout the night.

Reflecting on the duel, Flagg emphasized familiarity and respect.

“He played a really good game,” Flagg said. “He was aggressive, got to his spots, and rose up. I’ve played against him for a few years now. He’s a high-level competitor, and I knew what to expect.”

Flagg also pointed to the challenge of defending Maxey.

“He makes it tough on a lot of defenses,” Flagg said. “He’s quick, explosive, and gets to his spots. You have to track him everywhere. He impacted the game in a lot of ways.”

Looking ahead, Flagg kept the focus narrow with a back-to-back looming.

“Taking care of the ball, for sure,” he said. “Way too many turnovers. And we need to execute the game plan better. We didn’t follow it in some areas, and it hurt us.”

For Davis, the night also served as a broader snapshot of where the league is headed.

“The game is in good hands,” Davis said. “Not just those two, but young guys around the league. When I came in, it usually took until your third year to find your rhythm. Now guys are coming in from day one, NBA-ready, and making a name for themselves. The game keeps growing.”

Dallas fell to 11-18 and now faces a demanding stretch, beginning Monday night in New Orleans before returning home Tuesday to face Denver, leaving little time to dwell on what slipped away in Philadelphia.

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