The Dallas Mavericks just got absolutely boatraced by the Atlanta Hawks, dropping their preseason finale 135-111 at American Airlines Center on Friday. This wasn’t just any loss, it was a loud and clear alarm bell, especially with the regular season tipping off in just five days. While Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving had their moments, it’s pretty clear where the biggest headaches are brewing for Dallas: their defense and three-point shooting are seriously struggling, and frankly, the roster construction itself seems like a bit of a mess.
Hawks’ Dynamic Duo Puts Dallas On Blast Early
Right from the jump, the Mavs had zero answers for the Hawks’ breakout stars. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who snagged the NBA’s Most Improved Player award last year, and Jalen Johnson, a Third-Team All-NBA selection, absolutely went off. Alexander-Walker dropped 10 points in the first quarter on just three-of-four shooting, while Johnson added another nine, living at the free-throw line by getting into the lane at will. Seriously, these two combined for 19 first-quarter points, and they didn’t miss a single three-pointer between them in the opening frame. The Hawks ended the first quarter up 39-34, and it was a sign of things to come. Johnson finished the game with a monster 20 points and 14 boards, while Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points, hitting six-of-ten from deep. Zaccharie Risacher looked timid and ineffective against Atlanta’s starting unit early on, though he did score against guys battling for a roster spot in the fourth. The Mavs just could not keep these guys in check.
Sloppy Defense Leads To Free Throws Galore
If the first quarter wasn’t bad enough, the Mavs’ defensive sloppiness hit another gear. This was supposed to be a dress rehearsal game, but Dallas was fouling three-point shooters like it was going out of style. Four times in the first half alone, they fouled a Hawk in the act of shooting from deep, gifting Atlanta a staggering 12 free throws. Twelve! That kind of careless play is just unacceptable, especially when you’re trying to build momentum before the games start counting. It shows a serious lack of discipline on that end of the floor.
With just five days until the regular season officially kicks off, Dallas has got a ton of work to do. They need to tighten things up on defense big time, or it’s going to be a long season for the fans in Dallas. What happens next? We’ll find out when the games start counting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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