Turnovers and defensive breakdowns plague the Mavericks again. Coach Kidd emphasizes patience as the team struggles to find its rhythm and secure early wins.
DALLAS — Jason Kidd stood outside the locker room late Friday night, calm but firm in his tone. The Dallas Mavericks had just dropped their second straight game to open the season — a 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards — and the head coach wanted to make one thing clear: the sky wasn’t falling, but the lessons had to start sinking in.
Dallas’ early 14-point lead vanished as turnovers and defensive lapses allowed Washington to seize control. Kidd said afterward that the result looked too familiar to Wednesday’s opener against San Antonio.
“They got off to a good start and we’ve got to be better in that second quarter,” Kidd said. “It’s kind of like what happened against San Antonio, but this was for pretty much the whole quarter instead of the end of the quarter. Turnovers hurt us, but our defense isn’t up to par.”
The Mavericks committed 21 turnovers that led directly to 31 fast-break points for the Wizards. Kidd said those numbers overshadowed what could have been a strong bounce-back performance.
“When you’re not shooting it straight and have 21 turnovers, no matter who you’re playing, you can be beat,” he said. “We’re creating shots; we’ve just got to make some of them. There’s growth there, but we have to finish possessions.”
Kidd praised the group that led a fourth-quarter rally, pointing to the defensive energy from P.J. Washington and Max Christie and the playmaking of rookie Cooper Flagg, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
“The group that got us back in the game brought great energy and played the right way,” Kidd said. “It wasn’t just one person trying to do it all. The defense was the reason we got back in it, and we started to make plays.”
Flagg’s late burst — a corner three followed by a thunderous dunk — cut the deficit to four before Dallas faded again. Kidd said the rookie’s poise under pressure was encouraging, even as he adjusts to NBA physicality and extended defensive attention.
“He’s been picked up since day one in Summer League, and he’s going to be picked up all year,” Kidd said. “He’s getting better each time he’s in there. He makes big plays down the stretch.”
The coach acknowledged the offensive rhythm remains inconsistent, particularly from veteran guard D’Angelo Russell, who is still finding timing within the Mavericks’ larger lineup.
“Just rhythm,” Kidd said. “He had some good looks that didn’t go down. At that position we’re shorthanded, and we’re asking D’Angelo to do a lot, but he’s responding in a positive way. Everyone’s going to get another crack at it Sunday.”
Kidd also addressed fan frustration after chants surfaced in the final minutes. Rather than push back, he said he understood it.
“They have a right to vent,” Kidd said. “It’s a different team, a new team. We’re still getting to understand each other. I’d say be patient, but I understand the frustration. We all want to win and compete at a high level. But it doesn’t stop us from coming to work tomorrow and getting better.”
Anthony Davis echoed that message, saying Kidd’s even approach helps steady the team during early adversity.
“He’s calm,” Davis said. “He’s been through it before as a player and a coach. He knows how long a season is. We’ve got to listen, lock in, and keep building.”
Kidd left the podium emphasizing patience but not complacency — a distinction he said will define whether the Mavericks can turn lessons into progress.
“It’s early,” he said. “This is game two, and there’s a lot we have to work on. There were positives, but we can’t keep making the same mistakes. We’ll keep teaching, keep growing, and we’ll figure it out.”
The Mavericks continue their five-game homestand Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at 6:30 p.m. CST, still searching for their first win of the season.