The Dallas Mavericks did not leave Philadelphia searching for abstract answers. The problems that cost Dallas a fourth-quarter lead Saturday night were measurable, repeatable, and familiar — issues that have quietly narrowed the team’s margin for error during a season defined by constant adjustment.
As the Mavericks prepare to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, those issues loom larger with the schedule offering little recovery time.
At 11-18, Dallas enters the game in the middle of a six-game stretch that includes five road contests. The Mavericks’ 121–114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night was not simply a missed opportunity — it was a reminder that execution gaps now carry immediate consequences.
The Mavericks’ margin may be even thinner given a lengthy injury report entering Monday’s game.
Rookie Cooper Flagg is questionable with a back contusion after absorbing contact throughout the Philadelphia game. Klay Thompson is also questionable with left knee soreness, while Max Christie is listed as questionable due to illness. Two-way players Moussa Cissé and Miles Kelly are also questionable because of G League status.
Dallas will again be without several rotation pieces. Kyrie Irving remains out following left knee surgery, Dereck Lively II is sidelined after right foot surgery, and Danté Exum continues his recovery from right knee surgery.
With availability uncertain, execution and discipline become even more critical.
Turnovers Continue To Define The Margin
Ball security has become the clearest pressure point in Dallas’ recent performances.
Against Philadelphia, the Mavericks committed 18 turnovers, many of them coming outside the flow of offensive sets and resulting in no-shot possessions. Over their last three games, Dallas is averaging 16.7 turnovers per game, ranking 23rd in the NBA during that span. Those mistakes have consistently led to shot-attempt disparities that swing close games late.
Anthony Davis pointed to that breakdown immediately after the game, tying turnovers directly to rebounding, shot volume, and late-game control.
“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.”
From the floor, Flagg saw the same pattern developing, acknowledging that many of the mistakes did not require elite defensive pressure to occur.
“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.”
From the bench, head coach Jason Kidd framed the issue as a shared responsibility — part execution, part opponent pressure — with no room for excuse on the road.
“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.”
Three-Point Volume Is Compressing The Offense
The turnovers have been compounded by a growing offensive trend that has quietly reshaped Dallas’ floor spacing.
No team in the NBA is averaging fewer three-point attempts per game than the Mavericks over their last six contests. During that span, Dallas is attempting just 26.3 three-pointers per game, converting at a 31.6% rate. The reduced volume has allowed defenses to collapse inward, shrink driving lanes, and accelerate decision-making.
Davis said that lack of volume is tied directly to aggressiveness and readiness, not simply shot selection.
“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.”
From Flagg’s perspective, the issue Saturday was not the quality of looks, but the inability to compensate when shots did not fall.
“I didn’t think we got terrible looks,” Flagg said. “Sometimes you take a tough shot and live with it. For the most part, the looks were pretty good. They just didn’t fall. When shots aren’t falling, you still have to find ways to win.”
Kidd connected the dots between turnovers and perimeter volume, noting that one problem feeds the other.
“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.”
Fourth-Quarter Momentum and Missed Details
Dallas briefly appeared to regain control after a strong third quarter in Philadelphia, pushing ahead before the game unraveled in a matter of minutes.
The turning point came when the 76ers forced consecutive charges, sped up Dallas’ offense, and fed off the crowd as momentum shifted sharply.
“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.”
Kidd said the breakdown extended beyond missed shots, pointing to defensive lapses that prevented Dallas from stabilizing.
“We played well in the third, but we have to be better,” Kidd said. “Some good looks didn’t go down, and we had turnovers where we didn’t even get shots. We also didn’t guard the ball well.”
Defensive Identity Showing Cracks
For much of the season, defense has been the Mavericks’ most reliable anchor.
Dallas spent extended stretches ranked among the league’s top three defensive teams and still sits eighth overall in defensive rating. Recently, however, that execution has slipped. In December, the Mavericks rank 16th in defensive rating (115.5) across eight games, mirroring the late-game breakdowns seen in Philadelphia.
Davis said the defensive issues were not about ability, but consistency and discipline against elite perimeter players.
“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.”
Perspective, Growth and Immediate Urgency
Despite the loss, the night also offered perspective on how quickly the league continues to evolve, particularly with young players stepping into prominent roles.
Asked what it says about the NBA’s future when rookies like Flagg and VJ Edgecombe are already impacting games at this level, Davis pointed to a generational shift.
“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.”
For Flagg, who turned 19 on Sunday and is listed as questionable for Monday due to a back contusion, the focus remains immediate and practical.
“Taking care of the ball, for sure,” Flagg 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.”
With New Orleans riding a four-game winning streak and playing freer under interim head coach James Borrego, Dallas will again be tested on the margins. For the Mavericks, the blueprint is already clear — protect the ball, restore perimeter volume, and execute defensively from the opening possession — or risk watching another opportunity slip away.
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