The scoreboard told one story Thursday night at American Airlines Center. The broader arc of the Dallas Mavericks’ season told another. In a 135–123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas was again undone by defensive lapses, second-chance opportunities, and late-game execution against a deeper, more cohesive opponent.
The defeat dropped the Mavericks to 23–28, extending their losing streak to six games and leaving them ranked 12th in the Western Conference.
Yet the night also reinforced a reality that has quietly crystallized over recent weeks: the Mavericks are now operating on a new axis, one centered squarely on the rapid rise of Cooper Flagg.
Flagg scored 32 points for the fourth consecutive game, extending a historic rookie streak and continuing a surge that has placed him among the most productive first-year players the league has seen in decades. Alongside him, Naji Marshall matched that output with 32 of his own, as the two combined for 64 points in a performance that kept Dallas competitive well into the fourth quarter.
Still, the Spurs — who improved to 35–16 and remain firmly entrenched near the top of the Western Conference — proved steadier when it mattered most. Led by Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio closed the game with timely shot-making and ball movement to halt a Mavericks rally and pull away late.
San Antonio Spurs Set the Tone Early
From the opening possessions, San Antonio established control with spacing, pace, and purpose. Wembanyama immediately altered the geometry of the floor, knocking down his first five three-point attempts and forcing Dallas to defend well beyond the arc. His shooting range pulled the Mavericks’ bigs into uncomfortable territory and opened lanes for cutters and ball-handlers to attack a defense already short on continuity.
“It looked like he wasn’t going to miss tonight,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He was really good on both ends.”
The pressure manifested most clearly on the glass. In the first half, Dallas struggled to finish defensive possessions, allowing the Spurs to extend trips and generate extra opportunities. Those second chances prevented the Mavericks from building momentum even as their offense found pockets of success.
Despite that, Kidd noted the group’s resilience. “Even with him making every shot, I thought the group stayed together,” he said. “In the second half, the guys fought.”
Adjustments by Dallas Mavericks After the Break
Coming out of halftime, Dallas focused on physicality and discipline, particularly in its coverage of Wembanyama. The adjustments did not neutralize him — few ever do — but they slowed San Antonio’s rhythm and forced the Spurs into tougher looks.
“He was a little human there,” Kidd said. “Understanding that you just have to try to be physical. He might make some shots, but he also missed some shots.”
The Mavericks also cleaned up the glass and pushed the ball more decisively, turning defensive stops into transition opportunities. That shift allowed Flagg to take control of the game offensively, attacking mismatches and scoring from all three levels as the Spurs’ lead steadily shrank.
Flagg did most of his damage after halftime, pouring in 22 points while orchestrating Dallas’ comeback. His scoring came in a variety of ways — drives through traffic, pull-up jumpers and timely finishes — but it was his composure that stood out most.
“I think that’s the consistency,” Flagg said. “Showing up every day and being able to be consistent in who I am and what I can provide.”
A Late Push, and the Difference in Execution
Dallas eventually pulled within one possession, entering familiar territory for a team that has played a league-leading 34 clutch games this season. The Mavericks generated quality looks and continued to pressure San Antonio defensively, but the margin for error remained slim.
That margin disappeared late in the fourth quarter.
After Dallas came up empty on consecutive possessions, De’Aaron Fox drilled a three-pointer with 1:24 remaining, a shot assisted by Wembanyama that pushed the Spurs back up eight and effectively sealed the outcome.
“It was big,” Kidd said. “We had some good looks, and they made the big ones going down the stretch.”
The sequence encapsulated the night: Dallas competed, adjusted and threatened, but San Antonio executed with precision when the game demanded it.
Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall, Growing in Tandem
Even in defeat, the partnership between Flagg and Marshall continued to deepen. With injuries forcing role expansion across the roster, Marshall has increasingly operated as a secondary creator and occasional lead ball-handler, a responsibility he embraced again Thursday.
“I think just reps helped us a lot,” Marshall said. “Cooper obviously doing his thing, just learning how to feed off him and be helpful for him.”
Marshall attacked closeouts, finished in transition and knocked down four three-pointers, tying his career high. Yet he deflected individual praise afterward, choosing instead to highlight Flagg’s influence.
“Cooper inspired me,” Marshall said. “He’s on a rampage right now. He had 30 again tonight, so just trying to match his energy.”
When asked whether the attention once given to high-scoring duos of the past should apply to their recent run, Marshall smiled.
“Let Coop have all the shine,” he said. “I’m cool with being Robin.”
Facing Victor Wembanyama’s Length
For Flagg, the night also offered another lesson in navigating elite size and defensive range. Wembanyama’s ability to contest shots from the rim to the perimeter forced quicker decisions and altered shot selection throughout the game.
Flagg said facing Wembanyama requires a level of decisiveness that few matchups demand, particularly when the Spurs center is covering ground from the perimeter to the rim.
“It is different,” Flagg said. “You’ve got to get your shot up and get it up quick, or he’s coming to block it every time.”
That awareness extended to Flagg’s playmaking. A wraparound pass to Caleb Martin for a corner three was among several reads that reflected his expanding role as a facilitator.
“They were helping all the way in off him,” Flagg said. “Just trying to make the right play.”
Kidd echoed that growth. “Being 6-9 with the ability to find open guys is at a high level,” he said. “He’s showing that on a daily basis.”
Historic Production by Cooper Flagg, Broader Context
With his latest performance, Flagg joined a rare group of rookies to score at least 30 points in four consecutive games, a list that includes Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Bernard King, and Jalen Green. Over his last four games, Flagg is averaging 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, numbers that underscore how quickly his role has expanded.
Flagg attributed that surge not to any single adjustment, but to routine and discipline.
“I think that’s a big thing that I’ve learned,” he said. “Getting a good routine in place and sticking to it.”
That routine, Kidd said, reflects a broader maturity.
“Film, coachable — all of them,” Kidd said. “You tell him one thing, and he can add it. For a 19-year-old to be able to do those things is really special.”
Dallas Mavericks Face Deadline Fallout and a Reset in Motion
Thursday’s game was also Dallas’ first since trading Anthony Davis, a move that formalized a reset already taking shape. Davis appeared in just 29 games as a Maverick due to injuries, a reality Kidd addressed candidly.
“It was unfortunate,” Kidd said. “We never got to see everyone together. But AD is an incredible basketball player and a great human being. We wish him the best.”
Marshall, who spoke emotionally about the departures of Davis and other teammates, framed the moment as another reminder of the league’s volatility.
“The league’s very unpredictable,” he said. “But at the end of the day, you still gotta show up and do your job.”
A Long Runway Ahead
The loss dropped Dallas further in the standings, but the organization’s longer view is coming into sharper focus. Flagg is no longer simply a promising rookie; he is already shaping how the Mavericks compete, adjust, and imagine what comes next.
“The runway is long,” Kidd said. “He’s developing an understanding of the NBA game, the schedule, the physicality. Now it’s for us to find the pieces that fit.”
For Dallas, Thursday night was another step through a difficult stretch. For Flagg, it was another marker in a season that continues to redefine expectations — and to signal where the franchise is headed next.
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