Facing mounting injuries and rebounding deficits, the Mavericks must find physical toughness against a surging Miami Heat team.
The Dallas Mavericks open a challenging road trip in Miami on Monday with injuries piling up, rebounding issues intensifying and little margin for error as they face one of the league’s hottest teams.
Dallas was overpowered on the glass in a 102-96 loss to Memphis on Saturday, giving up a 61-41 rebounding deficit that included 23 offensive boards. It was the team’s 11th game in 18 days and another reminder of how far the Mavericks have slipped while navigating a thinned rotation.
“Giving up 23 offensive rebounds is tough,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “You can’t win in this league if you give up that many rebounds. We have to be physical, and we weren’t.”
The backcourt shared the burden, guard Brandon Williams said.
“We just got to be more physical,” Williams said. “Us guards have to come back and help the bigs.”
Klay Thompson delivered a season-high 22 points and hit six 3-pointers off the bench, but his hurried 29-footer with a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds fell short. Kidd said he should have put the veteran in a better position.
“As the coach, I take full responsibility for that last shot,” Kidd said. “We’ve got to get better. I’ve got to draw up a better play.”
P.J. Washington left late in the fourth quarter with a lower-back injury and is day-to-day. Anthony Davis has been upgraded to doubtful after missing 13 games with a left calf strain, while Dereck Lively II remains out with right foot injury management. Williams and Ryan Nembhard are questionable, with Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum still sidelined.
Even amid the attrition, rookie Cooper Flagg continues to emerge as a stabilizing force. He enters the night averaging 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists while taking on increased ballhandling duties.
Kidd said Flagg’s progress running the offense has been evident. “The more time he goes through being a quarterback, you can see he’s getting comfortable,” Kidd said. “He’s trying to do the right thing. Being a quarterback, you’re responsible for those four others.”
While Dallas searches for traction, Miami returns home in rhythm. The Heat have won four straight and capped a 127-117 victory in Philadelphia on Sunday by dominating the boards 58-47. Kel’el Ware had 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo added 18 and 13.
“With our rebounding, Bam and Kel’el were monsters on the glass, each one of them in their own way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Spoelstra said Ware’s continued growth has given Miami another interior anchor. “How fun was that to see Kel’el in that second quarter? Offensively, putting them back and just playing with so much more force than he was a year ago at this time. He’s gaining confidence.”
Norman Powell scored 32 points despite a hip concern and remains Miami’s leading scorer at 25.4 points per game.
“What an explosive offensive talent he is,” Spoelstra said. “The fact that he made himself available, we’re real appreciative of that.”
The Heat may also get All-Star guard Tyler Herro back for the first time this season, according to an ESPN report.
Miami (11-6) begins a four-game homestand, while Dallas (5-13) seeks stability before a rare multi-day break later this week. The teams split a pair of tightly contested games last season and have a 39-38 all-time regular-season series edge in Miami’s favor.