Hawks surge late with clutch threes, extending Mavericks' losing streak to eight. Dallas falters in fourth quarter despite strong bench play.
ATLANTA — The Dallas Mavericks had the Atlanta Hawks right where they wanted them. However, while tied in the fourth quarter, the Mavs couldn't get it done.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled two straight 3-pointers late, Jalen Johnson took care of the rest, and the Hawks beat the Mavericks 124-112 on Tuesday night. That marks eight straight losses now for Dallas. The team has lost 18 of the last 20 and fell to 21-44 overall.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd appreciated the fight his group displayed in rallying back and making it a competitive game.
"This group has always fought, no matter what the score is," coach Jason Kidd said. "This is a long road trip. We got ourselves in position to win tonight. Unfortunately, we just couldn't make the plays down the stretch."
Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton kept the Mavericks competitive. Thompson knocked down five 3-pointers off the bench and finished with 21. Middleton, coming off the bench for the first time in 11 games, shot 5-of-8 for 16. Between the two of them, Dallas had a chance by the fourth.
"I thought our bench was really good," Kidd said. "Klay was really good, and Khris was really good. That group coming off the bench kept us in the ballgame and gave us an opportunity."
Thompson focused on taking good shots when they were available throughout the night and delivered in key moments.
"Just taking what the defense gives me," he said. "I got a couple of open looks from my teammates and got into a little rhythm. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, but it's always fun to shoot the ball well."
Atlanta ran away with the first quarter, 40-26, and Dallas was chasing the whole night. It got worse in the turnover column — 10 in the first half alone, 14 by the final buzzer. The Hawks had nine.
"This team's very similar to Toronto when you talk about pressing, deflections, steals, and then turning those into points," Kidd said. "We have to take care of the ball."
Daniel Gafford opened the game in the starting lineup alongside P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall and said the slow start was on them.
"We turned the ball over a little early and our spacing wasn't the best," Gafford said. "But we figured it out throughout the process. It was a good learning point for us, just figuring out ways to play against a team like that."
Dallas clawed back. Brandon Williams, off the bench, drove into the paint and found shooters. Ryan Nembhard contributed in the backcourt. The Mavericks were within nine at halftime, 64-55, and kept grinding until Middleton's step-back jumper tied it at 97 with just over nine minutes left.
Then Johnson took Dallas apart. He scored eight of Atlanta's next 12 points, pushed the Hawks ahead 109-101, and Alexander-Walker's 3-pointers did the rest.
"They took advantage of our defense at the top of the floor," Kidd said. "That play, we just couldn't guard it. And then we started to guard it, and we couldn't get the rebound."
Gafford didn't sugarcoat it.
"It could be miscommunication, it could be lack of effort — it could be all of the above if we're being honest," he said. "A lot of things kind of progressed throughout the possessions."
Cooper Flagg went 6-of-16 for 14 points and spent most of the night being hounded by Dyson Daniels, who finished with 14 points and 10 assists. Kidd wasn't surprised.
"Daniels is one of the best defenders in this league," Kidd said. "His pressure and his hands — he's got great hands. He studies the opponent and just tries to make things difficult. For that, I think it was a great test for Cooper, but also for everyone else on the floor."
The box score didn't reflect it Tuesday, but Flagg is still the main reason Dallas is building toward something. Kidd has seen firsthand how Flagg handles the pressure that comes with being the No. 1 pick — and it hasn't rattled him.
"He's done great with the expectations," Kidd said. "He's been on the world stage at a very young age. He loves basketball and competition. As he goes on this journey, he's going to run into tough situations as he has early in his career, and I think he handles it well for a 19-year-old."
Thompson didn't mince words.
"Coop is going to be a superstar in this league," Thompson said. "It's a pleasure to be his teammate. And I'm excited to tell future generations I got to play with him in his rookie season."
Hawks coach Quin Snyder, asked about Flagg before tip-off, said there's more coming.
"The competitiveness has manifested itself in a lot of ways," Snyder said. "He's a special player and he's just getting started."
Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 29 points. Johnson had 27. Onyeka Okongwu added 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. The Hawks shot 52% and improved to 34-31.
Thursday, the road trip ends in Memphis. Dallas goes home for one day, then back out for two more.
"We have 18 games left to look at different combinations," Kidd said. "We'll start that tonight."