The Mavericks didn’t need a one-man show on Monday. They needed balance, and P.J. Washington supplied plenty of it.
While the attention naturally landed on Cooper Flagg, who put up 29 points and 11 assists in a near triple-double, Washington quietly shaped the game in a way Dallas can lean on all season. He finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds, including 3 offensive boards, while also leading the Mavericks with four made threes.
That kind of night fits the role Washington has started to carve out for himself. It was his second game this season with 20 points and 3 offensive rebounds, with the other coming in a double-double against Indiana that also featured 13 rebounds.
Dallas needed the help. The Mavericks have spent the early part of the season in the lower half of the NBA in both points per game and opponent points per game, and Monday’s 109 points allowed to Miami marked their second-best defensive showing of the season, behind only the Indiana game. Through four games, Dallas sits 18th in the league in opponent points per game, giving up 118 a night, and 18th in offense as well.
That’s the kind of middle-of-the-pack start that leaves little margin for error. If the Mavericks are going to move up, they need players who can lighten the load on Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and Washington looks built for that job.
He’s averaging 15.5 points per game as Dallas’ third-leading scorer, and his 7.5 rebounds per game lead the team. Just as important, he’s giving them value on the other end too. According to NBA advanced stats, opponents have made only four three-point attempts on 13 shots when guarded by Washington, a little over 30 percent.
That two-way presence is exactly why Washington keeps standing out. He brings energy, does the unglamorous work, and gives Dallas a player who can do a little of everything. In that sense, he’s been the glue guy for a team still finding its rhythm.
With Dusty May installing a new system, Dallas wants more versatility on both sides of the floor. The idea is simple: players should be able to score in different ways and defend multiple positions. That makes Washington a natural fit, and it puts even more on his plate going forward.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Just Got The Kind Of Praise Mavericks Fans Love
Kyrie Irving picked up a little extra shine from an unexpected source this week, and Mavericks fans will probably appreciate the company. Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg spoke highly of Irving, praising the Dallas guards skill and making clear how difficult he is to contain, a notable compliment for a player who is still working back into form after the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025.
Irvings numbers this season suggest he is finding his rhythm again, as he continues to steady Dallas with 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The timing of Lendeborgs praise is interesting, too, with the Warriors and Mavericks slated to see each other on Nov. 18 and the rookie likely focused on a different Dallas threat in Cooper Flagg, the clubs leading scorer this season. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Washington Is Changing A Big Mavericks Debate Around Cooper Flagg
P.J. Washington has quickly become part of the answer to one of the bigger early-season Mavericks questions around Cooper Flagg, and not just because of the shooting. Through the opening stretch, Washington has given Dallas a steady blend of finishing, rebounding and defensive versatility, the kind of all-around production that makes lineups with Flagg and Kyrie Irving look far more natural than they did on paper.
What has changed the conversation most is how comfortably Washington is fitting into a role that once felt easy to overthink in Dallas. The early trade speculation around him has cooled as he keeps doing the little things that matter in a rotation built around star talent, and that is where the Mavericks are finding real value. Whether the outside shot holds or not, Washington has already shown enough to remain a significant part of the lineup picture. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Finally Near A Frontcourt Boost They Desperately Need
The Mavericks are finally getting a little closer to adding a frontcourt piece they have been waiting on all fall. Santi Aldama has been recalled from a rehab stint with the Texas Legends, a notable step for a player who had knee surgery last season and then sat out the preseason and Dallas first five regular-season games after arriving in a summer trade.
Aldama is now preparing for his first appearance in a Mavericks uniform, with his next possible chance coming Friday against the Houston Rockets. Even with that help trending in the right direction, Dallas is still sorting through its frontcourt depth, and Dereck Lively II remains sidelined after foot surgery, leaving the team with one more important question to answer before the rotation feels settled. [Read more 🡒]