The Dallas Mavericks, now sitting at 4-2, dealt the previously undefeated Houston Rockets their first loss of the season on Friday, topping them 116-111 at American Airlines Center. What a game. If this is the kind of show Mavericks fans are getting this year, then we’re in for some serious early-season fireworks.
Mavericks’ Dynamic Duo Wrecks Houston’s Perfect Run
It was an absolute clinic from Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving in the fourth quarter. These two went off, dropping 25 of their combined 68 points down the stretch to seal the comeback and snap Houston’s perfect 5-0 start. Mavericks head coach Dusty May didn’t mince words after the game, calling the Rockets “tougher than” he “can’t imagine that there’s too many teams” in the league. That’s high praise, proving just how much grit it took for Dallas to pull off this win. May emphasized how much it means when a team can match that intensity, especially when shots aren’t falling. He pointed out how some guys, even those not having their best night, stepped up for big rebounds late. It’s that kind of unheralded effort that wins you games like this.
Beyond the Stars: The Depth That Made the Difference
While Flagg and Irving were obviously spectacular, Coach May was quick to highlight the impact of other players too. Gafford’s blocks at the rim were crucial. P.J. snagged three massive rebounds in traffic during the final three minutes, possessions they absolutely needed. And Zacc, what a second half he had. May also made sure to shout out Caleb Martin, who’s been back the last couple of games from injury and has clearly shown he’s a “winning player.” It sounds like Dallas isn’t just a two-man show, and that depth is already making a difference in these early regular season matchups.
May also reflected on how much the team has improved since their season-opening blowout loss to these same Rockets. He felt the effort was much better this time around, with no “leak-outs” or guys not “in the fight.” They also took better care of the ball, despite 17 turnovers. While that’s still a number they want to bring down, it was a definite step up from game one. Plus, a lot of those turnovers were dead-ball, which is a cleaner improvement than live-ball mistakes. Houston’s a tough team, and you can’t just expect to waltz through them, so a win like this, especially after an earlier loss to the same squad, shows some serious growth. The coach ended his post-game comments with a simple “On to the next,” and you can feel the momentum building for this Mavericks squad. As for Kyrie, May gave a glimpse into his dedication, noting that “If you just saw how much he puts into this game, and that factors into being on a young team, and bringing it every day and helping the group find solutions to problems…” It’s clear his impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
Dallas is now 4-2, and while it’s still early in the season, knocking off an undefeated team and showing this kind of fourth-quarter fire is a major statement. This team is already proving they’ve got the fight and the talent to make some noise.
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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