The Dallas Mavericks continued their five-game road trip with a non-conference game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. According to StatMuse, the Mavericks entered Friday night’s game as the only NBA team with 25+ wins and 0 All-Stars. The Mavericks got blown out by the Pistons 117-102 at Little Caesars Arena. Dallas fell to 26-23, while Detroit improved to 24-24.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists. PJ Washington followed up with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist. Daniel Gafford added 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Klay Thompson had 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Naji Marshall scored seven points, three rebounds, and one assist. Spencer Dinwiddie recorded five points, one rebound, and four assists.
Dallas Mavericks-Detroit Pistons Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Dereck Lively II with a right ankle stress fracture, Maxi Kleber with a right foot fracture, and Dwight Powell with a right hip strain. Doncic, 25, reportedly didn’t travel with the team. The Pistons ruled out Jaden Ivey with a broken left fibula fracture.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford. Irving, 32, was arguably snubbed on Thursday when the NBA All-Star reserves were announced. Both the Western and Eastern Conference’s coaches voted for the All-Star reserves. Irving’s strong argument could be attributed to his statistics, leadership, and stability, as the Mavericks remain above .500.
Tim Hardaway Jr. faced the Mavericks for the first time since he was traded to the Pistons on July 6, 2024. Hardaway Jr., 32, has averaged 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game this season. Both teams jumped out to a fast start, but the Mavericks took the lead 17-7 with 7:32 left in the first and built upon that lead before the Pistons’ offense picked up the pace. The Mavericks settled for a 32-28 lead at the end of the first.
The Mavericks opened the second-quarter scoring with highlight-reel plays, such as Gafford’s rim shot. The Pistons’ offense maintained its pace to keep the home game close for the hometown fans, took the lead 41-40 with 8:29 left in the second quarter, and generally ran with that lead. The Pistons brought a 62-58 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Both teams’ highlight-reel plays powered the third-quarter scoring. The three-point connection between Thompson and Irving could’ve been described as “unreal,” while the Pistons built upon Cade Cunningham’s impressive 18-point first half. The Pistons played solid defense and equally solid offense. The Pistons led 93-85 through three quarters.
The Mavericks went on a 6-0 run to open the fourth and cut the Pistons’ lead to just two points. The Pistons ended the Mavericks’ run with a two-point field goal midway through the fourth quarter and persevered. Jalen Duren’s 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals helped Detroit’s cause. The Mavericks reached the 100-point plateau with 1:05 left, but it was too little, too late. The Pistons won 117-102.
Mavericks-Pistons Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons game featured multiple highlights, such as Mavs.com’s recent report of Thompson recalling Kobe Bryant with fond memories. Thompson, 34, grew up admiring Bryant and often thinks about Bryant, his second daughter, Gianna, and seven other passengers who died in a helicopter crash. Thompson cited Bryant’s playing style and influence as second to Michael Jordan.
For the Mavericks, Sports Illustrated’s recent report of an NBA insider, Bobby Marks, attracted attention from the general public. Marks, 51, thinks the Mavericks would be willing to trade a future first-round pick before the trade deadline on February 6, 2025. Marks pointed out that the Mavericks can trade or swap their 2025 first and also a 2031 first. If this trade occurs, Dallas could take back more salary.
For the Pistons, Sports Illustrated’s recent report of the Pistons’ potential target attracted attention from the public. The state of the Pistons remains unclear, but the Pistons could target the Chicago veteran Center Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic, 34, has been averaging 19.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 54.6% from the field and 39.3% from the three-point line. Vucevic’s presence could help the Pistons’ playoff run.
Final Thoughts
The Dallas Mavericks held off the New Orleans Pelicans, 137-136, at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night. The Mavericks’ concept of “next man up” finally worked, with next men up in Gafford and Washington. Gafford and Washington, both 26, came through with big games and clutch fourth quarters, such as the Mavericks grinding out a win over the Pelicans.
Gafford’s uprising — and Klay Thompson’s shooting — top the Mavericks’ regular-season highlights. Gafford is nearing the first anniversary of his arrival in Dallas, Texas, and initially felt he wasn’t picking up Lively II’s slack. Gafford’s variety of nice jump hooks is becoming more effective each game.
Exum is on the verge of a return to the Mavericks. Exum, 29, is on the Mavericks’ five-game road trip and reportedly hoped that he’ll play at some point in the next four games. Exum told Mavs.com, “Hopefully … We’ll see.” Exum sustained his right wrist injury and underwent right wrist surgery after trying to dunk on an opposing player and recalled his right wrist hit the rim at the wrong ankle.
The Dallas Mavericks will continue their road trip with the third game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. The Cavaliers previously hosted the Atlanta Hawks in a home game on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Cavaliers blew out the Hawks 137-115 in regulation. Cleveland improved to 39-9, while Atlanta fell to 22-26.
