A minor hip injury has ended up changing the Dallas Mavericks’ starting look more than anyone probably expected.
Dallas rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 130-93 on Sunday night and moved to 6-4 through its first 10 games, but the bigger story has been how the lineup has shifted around Max Christie’s absence and reduced role. Christie started the first seven games of the season before hurting his hip in last week’s loss to the Sacramento Kings. The injury was described as fairly minor, and he missed only Wednesday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs before returning for Friday’s NBA Cup win over the Utah Jazz.
Even with that quick return, Christie’s workload has dropped off sharply. Over his last two games, he has played just 23 total minutes, mostly in garbage time against the Jazz and again on Sunday against the Nets. That is a steep fall from the 26.5 minutes per game he was logging across the first six contests.
The bigger issue is that the production hasn’t been there either. Christie is averaging 6.1 points per game and has shot just 26.2% from beyond the arc. With limited creation as a ball-handler and only so much defensive value to lean on, the Mavericks haven’t had much reason to keep forcing the issue when the shot isn’t falling.
That has opened the door for other options at shooting guard. Caleb Martin has started the last few games, a development that would have sounded unlikely at this point last year, but he’s earned the look with solid play.
His scoring line sits at 4.2 points per game, yet he’s bringing strong defense and has knocked down 50% of his threes. He also delivered a nice alley-oop pass to Cooper Flagg the other night.
Zaccharie Risacher has also picked up some minutes at the spot, bringing defensive upside of his own. He was one of the NBA leaders in total steals plus blocks during the first week, though his offense has been inconsistent.
Then there’s Walter Clayton Jr., who the Mavericks signed to a two-way contract as the season was starting. He’s been the surprise of the group, giving Dallas another playmaker and easing some of the burden on Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks have even played them together at times, using Clayton and Irving on the floor at the same time to give the team multiple ball-handlers.
In Other News...
Cooper Flaggs Breakout Has Mavericks Fans Eyeing A Bigger Test
The Mavericks took control early against the Nets and never really let the game drift, with Cooper Flagg doing the heavy lifting in a performance that gave Dallas plenty to feel good about. Flagg kept the offense organized and aggressive, and the win came with a smoother look than the team has often had when trying to settle into its rotation.
Brooklyn never found much rhythm, especially after Noah Clowney ran into foul trouble and was out of the game in under eight minutes. Dallas also eased Max Christie back in after his injury return, a reminder that the Mavericks are still sorting out their pieces even as the results start to tilt their way. The bigger question now is how Flagg's growing role translates when the opposition is a little less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Backcourt Problem Just Got Harder To Ignore
The Mavericks backcourt depth is getting tested in a way that makes every absence behind Kyrie Irving feel a little heavier. With backup point guard Sergio De Larrea out because of a right knee sprain, Dallas has had to lean more on its current reserve guards, and Walter Clayton Jr. has helped steady the rotation while the team tries to keep the position from becoming a nightly problem.
De Larrea has already missed six straight games, and the delay in his return only adds to the uncertainty around a group that was already thin. For a team trying to manage its guard minutes carefully, the longer this lingers the more the Mavericks have to rely on patchwork solutions, at least until there is clearer news on when he can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irving Faces A Big Mavericks Test Against Indiana
The Mavericks took care of business against the Nets, and the payoff was a little extra breathing room before a tougher-looking matchup with Indiana. Kyrie Irving was efficient in the win, scoring 21 points in 29 minutes, and Dallas has settled into a 6-4 start while trying to keep its rotation steady early in the season.
Now the bigger question is how the Mavericks handle the next step in the schedule, with Irving set to face a demanding test in the second game of a back-to-back. Dallas has been careful with its star guard since his ACL injury in March 2025, so this is the kind of night that will say plenty about where he is physically and how the team plans to manage him going forward. [Read more 🡒]