The thunder outside American Airlines Center wasn’t the only storm Dallas faced Friday night. Inside, the Mavericks were hit with another one — this time courtesy of Kyshawn George and the Washington Wizards, whose hot shooting spoiled what could have been a statement bounce-back performance.
Despite a strong start and standout efforts from Anthony Davis and rookie Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks fell 117-107, dropping to 0-2 to begin the season. George led all scorers with a career-high 34 points, hitting seven of nine shots from three-point range, while local product Tre Johnson added 17 points in his first NBA game in his hometown.
Dallas Mavericks’ Early Control Slips Away
Dallas opened the game with energy and precision, attacking early through Davis and P.J. Washington to build a 23-9 lead midway through the first quarter. The Mavericks shot confidently, shared the ball, and appeared to have shaken off the struggles from their lopsided loss to San Antonio two nights earlier.
That rhythm, however, didn’t last. Turnovers quickly became a problem — 13 of them before halftime — allowing Washington to claw back. The Wizards outscored Dallas 30-17 in the second quarter, flipping the game by pushing the pace and creating open looks from the perimeter.
After the game, head coach Jason Kidd reflected on how familiar the collapse felt to Wednesday’s opener.
“They got off to a good start and we’ve got to be better in that second quarter,” Kidd said. “It’s kind of like what happened against San Antonio, but this was for pretty much the whole quarter instead of the end of the quarter. Turnovers hurt us, but our defense isn’t up to par.”
By halftime, the Mavericks trailed 58-52, undone by their mistakes and Washington’s 42 percent three-point shooting. In the third quarter, the deficit swelled to 17 as George continued to find space and Tre Johnson attacked off screens. Davis tried to stabilize Dallas with three consecutive scores late in the period, but the Mavericks still entered the fourth down 89-76.
Cooper Flagg Sparks Late Rally
The Mavericks opened the fourth quarter with their most promising stretch of the night. Max Christie hit a pair of threes, Washington worked inside for second-chance points, and Dallas’ defense briefly tightened. Cooper Flagg then brought the crowd to its feet — first by knocking down a right-corner three, then by punctuating a fast-break sequence with a soaring dunk that trimmed the margin to 103-99 with just over four minutes left.
Even as the crowd roared, Washington’s composure held. Missed free throws by Davis and a quick counterattack from Alex Sarr pushed the lead back up. Moments later, Bub Carrington hit a corner three as a foul away from the ball gave the Wizards a four-point possession, halting Dallas’ rally. Then George’s wide-open triple from the left corner with two minutes to play sealed the Mavericks’ fate.
Flagg, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block in just his second career game, said the Mavericks’ self-inflicted mistakes were too costly to overcome.
“It came down to turnovers — just silly ones we shouldn’t have thrown,” Flagg said. “We’ve got to take care of the ball because that led to a lot of transition opportunities for them.”
The 18-year-old added that he felt more comfortable reading the game after his debut but knows the challenge now is consistency.
“There was a lot of energy in the building,” Flagg said. “The fans were amazing tonight. We were competing hard, getting stops, playing the way we want to play. That’s what it comes down to — competing consistently. We took a step in the right direction, but we’ve got to sustain that for the whole game.”
Anthony Davis Continues Dominant Start
For the second consecutive night, Anthony Davis carried Dallas’ offense. He finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks — recording back-to-back 20-point double-doubles to start a season for the first time since 2021-22.
Afterward, Davis focused on the defensive communication issues that continue to trouble the Mavericks’ new-look lineup.
“We’ve got to be better defensively,” Davis said. “Playing that big lineup, we’ve got to communicate better. Their guards ran a lot of actions that confused us a bit. When we get stops, we can run, but defensively, that’s where our biggest problems are.”
He also cited turnovers as a decisive factor in both losses to begin the season.
“Twenty turnovers make it tough to win,” Davis said. “A lot were unforced. Teams know we’re bigger, so they’re swiping at the ball and trying to get deflections. We’ve got to be smarter. Me, PJ, and Coop — if we’re the primary ball handlers, we’ve got to protect it better and handle full-court pressure.”
Still, Davis said he feels confident in the team’s offensive system and believes Dallas is closer than its record shows.
“It just takes a win,” Davis said. “Our trust and effort were better tonight than Wednesday. We let George get too comfortable, and that’s on us. We’ve got to play with defensive aggression for all 48 minutes. I’d rather this happen now so we can correct it early.”
P.J. Washington and Max Christie Provide Support
P.J. Washington was again one of the Mavericks’ most reliable players, contributing 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block on 8-of-14 shooting. His ability to defend multiple positions and generate offense from the corners continues to make him an early bright spot for Dallas.
Kidd, though, noted how much he has had to lean on Washington through the first two games.
“I can’t play him 48 minutes — he’d die before Christmas,” Kidd said. “He’s doing everything for us: guarding, making plays, shooting threes. He’s playing at an extremely high level, but it’s not fair to ask him to do that every night. We’re a deep team, and someone has to pick up the baton.”
Christie added nine points off the bench, all from beyond the arc, marking his second straight game with three made threes. His spacing helped trigger Dallas’ late push before Washington’s closing run.
Wizards Ride Hot Shooting to Victory
The Wizards combined crisp ball movement with efficient perimeter shooting, hitting 15-of-36 from deep and scoring 31 fast-break points. George’s stat line — 34 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks — was the first of its kind in franchise history.
Washington head coach Brian Keefe’s group played with poise after falling behind by 14 early. By halftime, they were in control, and their shot-making never cooled.
When asked postgame about fan frustration during the closing minutes, Kidd acknowledged the disappointment but urged patience as the team adjusts to a retooled roster.
“They have a right to vent,” Kidd said. “It’s a different team, a new team. We’re still getting to understand each other. I’d say be patient, but I understand the frustration. We all want to win and compete at a high level. But it doesn’t stop us from coming to work tomorrow and getting better.”
Looking for a Breakthrough
Through two games, the Mavericks have struggled with cohesion, turnovers, and defensive breakdowns — but there were signs of progress in the loss. Flagg looked poised, Davis was dominant, and Washington continued to be consistent.
The next test will come Sunday as Dallas continues its homestand, hoping to find the rhythm that has eluded it early.
“When you’re creating shots, you’ve got to make some of them, and right now we’re not making them,” Kidd said. “But when you look at how hard they’re playing, there’s growth. We’ve just got to keep building.”
The next test will come Sunday as Dallas continues its five-game homestand, hosting the Toronto Raptors at 6:30 p.m. CST at American Airlines Center.
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