Luka Doncic has never won an MVP award, and he isn’t pretending it doesn’t matter to him. The Los Angeles Lakers star made his ambitions clear ahead of the new season, even as an unverified claim from The Athletic’s Sam Amick put his exit from Dallas back in the spotlight. Speaking to California Post reporter […]
The post Luka Doncic Makes Feelings Clear on MVP Ambitions Amid Shocking Mavericks Trade Report appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Marcus Sasser is off to a hot start for the Dallas Mavericks, but the team can't expect him to be the only answer behind Kyrie Irving in the backcourt. They need to add more depth if they hope to be a playoff team in the West.
The Mavericks enter Friday’s game at Indiana with a laundry list of absentees: Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberović, Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin are all ruled out, while rookie Jett Howard is doubtful with right‑calf tightness. All four missed the 128‑110 season‑opening loss to Houston, and Howard sat out that game as well. Kyrie Irving returns after a 597‑day hiatus, but no injury news for him. The Pacers list Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Tip‑off is 6 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Dallas Mavericks don't have enough shot creators and 3-point shooters, and the only way to fix these issues is through a trade due to the team's imbalanced roster construction.
Kyrie Irving returns to the court for the Dallas Mavericks’ season opener, checking out after 3:51 minutes in a 128-110 loss to the Houston Rockets. He logged 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 23:45, marking his first regular‑season appearance since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. Irving explains his limited minutes are a blend of a cautious ramp‑up plan and the Mavericks’ revamped medical staff, which now includes Nico Berg as executive director of health and performance and Ally Wade as director of mind health. He emphasizes needing to be more aggressive early, adjusting to shorter stints, and staying patient while the new health team fine‑tunes his load.
Max Christie says the Mavericks must bring urgency after a 128-110 season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets, where Dallas trailed 70-38 at halftime and fell behind by 37 points in the third quarter. Despite winning the final two quarters, the team shot 2‑of‑8 overall and struggled defensively in transition. Christie highlights the need to improve fast‑break defense and create better shot looks, especially against the fast‑paced Indiana Pacers on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. He also notes the learning curve with Kyrie Irving’s return and the integration of new players like Cooper Flagg.
After a 128-110 loss that saw Dallas trail by 37 points before a late rally, the Mavericks (0-1) face a daunting road test against the Pacers (1-0) in Indianapolis. Indiana opens the season with a win over New Orleans, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles and the addition of center Ivana Zubac. The Pacers are 7.5-point favorites, with betting lines favoring Zubac to exceed 27.5 points and Obi Toppin under 12.5. Dallas must overcome a hostile home crowd and a strong rebounding matchup to pull off a upset.
Yaxel Lendeborg's spat with Luka Doncic was entertaining, but it only obscure's the problems the Golden State Warriors have for so long.
Yaxel Lendeborg spent his NBA debut trying to get under Luka Doncic’s skin. One rival executive thinks the Warriors rookie did Lakers coach JJ Redick a favor. “Oh man, JJ had to absolutely love that. He owes [Lendeborg] a steak dinner,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Any time Luka is focused on […]
The post NBA exec: JJ Redick owes Yaxel Lendeborg ‘a steak dinner’ for Luka Doncic trash talk appeared first on Hoops Wire .
The Dallas Mavericks' defense struggled heavily against the Houston Rockets in its first game, but Dereck Lively II offers a perfect solution once he returns to the court.
The Dallas Mavericks' transition defense was a major problem during the team's opening-night loss to the Houston Rockets, and Dallas has to fix this issue in order to start stringing together some wins and better control the game.
Max Kellerman thinks Luka Doncic is trying to be slick with his constant complaining.
NBA legend Steve Nash revealed that he never intended to leave the Dallas Mavericks, explaining that the franchise’s contract offer made him feel unwanted and gave him additional motivation when he faced his former team in the playoffs. Nash spent six seasons alongside Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas before joining the Phoenix Suns in 2004. Although […]
The post Steve Nash: Facing Mavericks in playoffs became personal after Dallas departure appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki opened up about the complicated emotions he experienced after longtime teammate and close friend Steve Nash left Dallas to join the Phoenix Suns in 2004. Nowitzki admitted that while he genuinely wanted Nash to succeed, watching his former teammate thrive with a Western Conference rival was difficult to accept. The […]
The post Dirk Nowitzki admits Steve Nash’s success with Suns was painful to watch appeared first on TalkBasket.net .
Sam Amick alleges the Mavericks conducted a behind-the-scenes smear campaign to justify trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
The Houston Rockets will face an early test as they take on the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center on Friday. The Rockets handily won their first game against the Dallas Mavericks, 128-110, on Wednesday. Houston looked great versus the Mavericks, showcasing its starting unit of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., […]
The post Devin Booker gets floated as ideal ‘all-in trade’ target for Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Dallas Mavericks unravel in a disastrous second quarter of their season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets, dropping 12 points while conceding 38. Coach Dusty May blames rushed shooting and poor ball movement, noting the team forgot its new “passing‑first” identity. Key missteps include P.J. Washington’s premature three‑point attempts, an offensive foul on Washington, and early‑clock three attempts from Naji Marshall, all despite having Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg and potential Hall‑of‑Famer talent on the floor. Irving criticizes the effort and defense, calling the quarter “horrendous,” while May seeks to instill a team‑oriented culture. The article argues that bench players who understand ball sharing may be the solution.
While Sergio De Larrea had an excellent preseason, Marcus Sasser proved why he should be the Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard in their regular-season debut against the Houston Rockets due to his shooting and scoring off the dribble.
Yaxel Lendeborg continues to catch flak for talking trash to Luka Doncic.
Yaxel Lendeborg's battle with Luka Doncic on Wednesday night proves the Golden State Warriors have a star on their hands.
The Mavericks travel to Indianapolis on Friday night for their first chance at a season win, facing a Pacers squad that opened with a victory over New Orleans. New head coach Dusty May’s experimental rotations—10 players in the first quarter against the Rockets—raise questions about early line‑up stability. Dallas must tighten defense, cutting fast‑break points after allowing 32 off 21 turnovers versus Houston, while improving a cold three‑point start (11‑of‑37) and free‑throw shooting (17‑of‑26). Also highlighted is Tyrese Haliburton’s first non‑exhibition game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 2025. The game tips off 6 p.m. CDT on KFAA‑TV, Mavs TV, and NBA League Pass.
While Zaccharie Risacher struggled offensively for the Dallas Mavericks in his debut for the team, he showcased some promise as a rebounder and brought good energy.
The Houston Rockets open the 2026-27 season with a dominant 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Toyota Center. Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith each drop 30 points, while Alperen Sengün adds 23 and 10 rebounds. Fred VanVleet returns to the lineup, posting 11 assists and no turnovers, sparking praise from teammates and coach Ime Udoka, who highlights the team's 29 fast‑break points and faster pace. Steven Adams is a game‑time decision due to a sore calf, and rookie Tari Eason is ejected early after a flagrant‑two foul. The Rockets lead the season 1‑0, showcasing a potent offense and revamped double‑big strategy.
Marcus Sasser made an immediate impact in the Dallas Mavericks' season opener, showing why his shooting and ball handling will be vital for Dallas.
Years after Mavericks breakup, it's all love between former teammates Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson.