The Dallas Mavericks’ three-game homestand in the American Airlines Center ended on a negative note. The Mavericks won the first two games against the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets but lost to the winless Sacramento Kings. Here’s what you need to know about the Mavericks’ homestand.
In Case You Missed It
The Dallas Mavericks opened the three-game homestand with an upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder by a final score of 120-96. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. The win put the Mavs over .500 for the first time since Flagg joined the team in 2025. He helped lead a balanced Dallas attack that handed the short-handed Thunder their first loss of the season.
Ajay Mitchell led the Thunder with 29 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Mitchell’s performance followed his career-high 30-point game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, October 26. Mitchell brought his A-game against the Mavericks, despite initially being listed on the Thunder’s injury report with a right ankle sprain. He proved that he could carry the offensive load alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Dallas Mavericks Take Down Houston Rockets in NBA Cup
The Dallas Mavericks opened NBA Cup play against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center on Friday, October 30. The Mavericks achieved a three-game win streak with a 116-111 win over the undefeated Rockets, who have one of the NBA’s top offensive ratings.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavs with 35 points, four rebounds, and nine assists. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 28 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
The Mavs tweaked their starting lineup with Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford. The Rockets’ starting lineup featured Kevin Durant, Clint Capela, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Fred VanVleet. The Rockets were without Alperen Sengun, who was listed as day-to-day with a mild lower back strain and soreness. The Mavs had a chance to expose the Rockets’ depleted frontcourt.
Both teams played a high-energy first quarter, with Dallas leading Houston 27-20. The Rockets picked up the pace in the second quarter, taking a 51-44 lead into halftime. The Rockets’ success was attributed to the team shooting 50% from the field, while holding the Mavs to just 26.3%.
The Rockets maintained momentum in the third quarter, taking an 84-76 lead over the Mavs. Despite trailing, Dallas’ bright spot was in Kyrie Irving, who scored eight of the team’s 10 points to open the second half. Irving helped the team cut a seven-point deficit to 57-54 early on.
The game went down-to-the-wire in the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving made it rain with three-pointers, while Cooper Flagg added to his ever-growing list of clutch buckets, as Dallas had a 40-point quarter. The Rockets’ defense declined late.
Dallas Mavericks Fall as Sacramento Kings Secure First Win of the Season
The Dallas Mavericks concluded their homestand with a 115-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Center on Monday, November 2. Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks with 20 points and seven rebounds. Darius Acuff Jr. led the Kings with 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
The Mavs’ starting lineup featured Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, Caleb Martin, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford. The Kings’ starting lineup highlighted De’Andre Hunter, Precious Achiuwa, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Darius Acuff Jr. The Mavs sought a fourth straight win, while the Kings looked for their first win of the season to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Kings took a 19-18 lead over the Mavs in the first quarter. Malik Monk’s shot from beyond the arc earned Highlight of the Game honors before following up with a triple. The Kings’ momentum carried over for a 54-53 halftime lead, thanks to Monk, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis stuffing the stat sheet. LaVine shined in transition with a crossover and a one-handed jam.
The Mavs’ injury woes flared up again after Max Christie left the game with a right hip injury and was ruled out. The offense struggled without Kyrie Irving, who was out due to left knee injury management. The Kings led the Mavs 81-74 after three quarters. The Mavs lost their spark on both ends of the floor, while the Kings’ offense stood out.
Dallas Mavericks’ Next Steps
The Dallas Mavericks hit the road to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:30 p.m. Central. Wednesday’s matchup favors San Antonio, but Dallas can win by capitalizing on their stars’ scoring, forcing turnovers in key moments, and exploiting San Antonio’s defensive weaknesses.
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