Mavericks Drop Sixth Straight Despite Big Nights from Flagg and Marshall
The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the post-Trade Deadline stretch with a tough home matchup against the surging San Antonio Spurs - and unfortunately, the same issues that have haunted them recently showed up again. A 135-123 loss stretched their skid to six games, and while there were some standout performances, the collective effort just wasn’t enough to halt the slide.
Let’s break down the individual performances from a game that had its highs - and a few too many lows.
Naji Marshall: A
32 PTS | 6 REB | 3 AST | 12-21 FG | 39 MIN
Marshall came out like a man on a mission. He was aggressive, efficient, and relentless in transition.
This wasn’t just a good night - it was a full-on takeover. He attacked the rim with purpose, knocked down shots at an impressive clip, and kept the tempo up even when the Mavericks were struggling to get stops.
He also absorbed contact all night without getting much love from the whistle, but it didn’t slow him down. This was vintage Marshall - and Dallas needed every bit of it.
Max Christie: B+
20 PTS | 3 REB | 4 AST | 7-14 FG | 2-8 3PT | 38 MIN
Christie’s offensive approach was a breath of fresh air. Instead of settling behind the arc, he mixed things up and got downhill - something that’s been missing from his game in recent outings.
He still struggled from deep, but his willingness to attack opened up better looks for himself and his teammates. Defensively, he had some lapses - a few too many easy buckets were given up on his watch - but overall, it was a solid two-way effort with encouraging signs on offense.
Cooper Flagg: A
32 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 3 BLK | 39 MIN
Flagg didn’t start hot, but by the end of the night, he’d once again reminded everyone why he’s quickly becoming must-watch basketball. This was his fourth straight 30-point outing, and he did it while impacting the game all over the floor.
His three blocks tied a career high, and he added a couple of steals to round out a defensive performance that was just as impactful as his scoring. The turnovers (three) were a blemish, but when you’re carrying that much of the load, they’re understandable.
Flagg is doing things rookies just aren’t supposed to do - and making it look routine.
Caleb Martin: B
8 PTS | 4 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 3-4 FG | 32 MIN
On paper, Martin’s night doesn’t jump off the page - and his minus-20 plus-minus might raise some eyebrows - but he actually gave the Mavericks some solid minutes. He was efficient on limited touches and made a couple of key defensive plays, including several possessions where he held his own against the towering Victor Wembanyama. He wasn’t a star in this one, but he played his role and didn’t force the issue.
Daniel Gafford: B+
16 PTS | 10 REB | 2 AST | 3 STL | 4 BLK | 33 MIN
Gafford came out swinging. Ten points and three blocks in the first quarter set the tone for what would be another strong outing from the big man.
He notched his third straight double-double and added seven combined steals and blocks - an elite number for any center. His energy was infectious early, and while his production dipped as the game wore on, he remained active and disciplined (zero turnovers).
Gafford’s been one of the few consistent bright spots during this rough stretch.
Klay Thompson: D
5 PTS | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1-6 3PT | 20 MIN
This was a tough one for Thompson. He just couldn’t get it going.
The shot volume was low early, and when he did get chances late - especially a few in the fourth that could’ve swung momentum - they didn’t fall. His lone make from deep came on six attempts, and he never really found his rhythm.
Dallas could’ve used some vintage Klay shooting to stretch the floor, but it just wasn’t there tonight.
Ryan Nembhard: C
5 PTS | 3 REB | 7 AST | 1 STL | 2-9 FG | 17 MIN
Nembhard had some nice moments as a facilitator, dishing out seven assists and keeping the offense organized in spurts. He also took care of the ball, committing just one turnover.
But the shot just wasn’t falling - he missed seven of nine attempts, and it put a cap on his overall impact. The flashes of potential are still there, but the consistency hasn’t arrived yet.
Moussa Cisse: C-
0 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK | 3 FOULS | 12 MIN
Cisse had a rough go early, picking up three fouls in his first five minutes on the floor. That put him behind the eight ball, and while he settled down defensively after that, his offensive struggles were glaring.
He missed a lob dunk and then got blocked on the next possession - a tough sequence that summed up his night. Still, these are the kinds of games young bigs can learn from.
The effort was there, even if the execution wasn’t.
Final Takeaway
The Mavericks continue to be a team that competes - they don’t quit, and they’ve got talent. But the same issues keep rearing their heads: sluggish starts, poor perimeter defense, and costly turnovers.
San Antonio came out firing from deep, and Dallas didn’t have an answer early. Even with strong performances from Flagg, Marshall, and Gafford, the hole was too deep to climb out of.
A 12-point loss doesn’t always feel close, but this one did - especially considering the Mavericks had multiple chances to swing momentum in the second half. They just couldn’t string together enough stops or timely buckets to make it happen.
The losing streak now sits at six, and while there are signs of individual growth, the team will need to tighten things up - fast - if they want to turn this season around.