The Dallas Mavericks’ 120–116 preseason loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night underscored an issue that’s lingered since training camp began: they still don’t know who will consistently guard the other team’s best perimeter players.

Klay Thompson, who turns 36 this season, opened as the primary defender on LaMelo Ball and competed well early, but Ball still finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three, along with six assists and three rebounds in 23 minutes.

Head coach Jason Kidd praised Thompson’s effort but acknowledged the team can’t depend on him for those matchups regularly.

“Melo’s a little different because he can score and pass,” Kidd said. “But we thought looking at that tonight was something we needed to see. Making it tough on Melo isn’t easy — he’s gonna have the ball 90% of the time. But I thought Klay did a good job.

“He can still compete at that level at this stage of his career,” Kidd added. “We’re not going to ask him to do it every night, but tonight he showed he can compete.”

Dallas Mavericks Evaluating Who Takes On Top Assignments

Kidd’s comments highlight the ongoing question facing Dallas as it reshapes its defensive structure: who guards the opposing team’s primary playmaker on a nightly basis?

The Mavericks have placed an early focus on deploying rookie forward Cooper Flagg on wings, using his length and instincts to disrupt passing lanes and contain taller scorers.

While Flagg has shown promise, the Mavericks still lack a clear perimeter stopper for lead guards.

Multiple NBA scouts told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the current starting backcourt combination of D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson could prove problematic defensively. One scout described it bluntly as a potential “disaster,” citing lateral quickness and point-of-attack defense as key concerns.

Without Danté Exum, Jaden Hardy, or Brandon Williams available, Dallas’ guard rotation remains limited, forcing Kidd to lean on veterans until reinforcements arrive.

Dallas Mavericks Must Tighten 3-Point Defense

Charlotte took advantage of Dallas’ uncertain perimeter coverage — largely by exploiting having a spread lineup with speed against double bigs — shooting 16-of-39 (41.0%) from three-point range and building a 30–13 first-quarter lead.

Kidd compared the Hornets’ pace and spacing to one of the league’s elite shooting teams.

“They’re like Boston,” Kidd said. “They’re trying to shoot a lot of threes. You’ve got to be able to rebound the ball. If you give them second opportunities in this league — even though it’s preseason — you’re gonna get hurt.”

Miles Bridges matched Ball’s output with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while center Ryan Kalkbrenner added 14 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting night.

Cooper Flagg’s Defensive Development Remains a Bright Spot

Despite the loss, Flagg’s early activity again stood out. The 18-year-old wing recorded two steals and two assists in the opening two minutes, finishing with 11 points, three rebounds, and three steals in 24 minutes.

“Just coming out with good energy — starting at a high level and trying to hold that throughout the game,” Flagg said.

Kidd said the team continues to test Flagg in different defensive roles, including switching onto guards and initiating plays on offense.

“He made plays for his teammates, was able to knock down shots, and defensively came up with some big plays,” Kidd said. “We want to look at him handling the ball, put him in different situations. I thought he made a lot of great reads tonight.”

Dereck Lively II Calls for Improved Discipline

Dereck Lively II, who added 10 points and six rebounds, said Dallas’ defensive challenges are more about focus than schemes.

“We know they’re going to hit shots no matter if it’s the first quarter or the fourth,” Lively said. “We just have to be solid and disciplined — both in our rotations and on the ball.”

As the Mavericks continue preseason play Monday in Salt Lake City, Kidd and his staff will need to identify who takes on the nightly challenge of guarding the league’s elite perimeter players — and whether Flagg’s emergence can help balance the workload for Thompson and Russell.

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